The EU’s new geographical indications for craft and industrial products

From 1 December 2025, European glassblowers, ceramicists, knife-makers, jewellers and other craftspeople will be able to register the names of their products under the EU’s new system for geographical indications. The protection, which has long applied to food and beverages, is now being extended to craft and industrial products, completing the internal market for geographical indications.

With the new system, established products such as Bohemian glass, Limoges porcelain, Solingen knives, and Donegal tweed — whose reputation and quality are closely tied to their place of origin — will be protected. The system safeguards traditional skills and local jobs and helps consumers identify authentic, high-quality European products. By transforming tradition into opportunity, the scheme aims to strengthen regional economies, preserve Europe’s cultural identity, and combat counterfeiting both online and offline within the EU and globally. Producers outside the EU may also apply for protection if they meet the EU’s requirements.

Finland’s craft and design culture is internationally recognised for its simplicity, functionality, durability, and deep connection to nature. From Iittala glass and Lapua textiles to the woodworking heritage of the Finnish lake region, these traditions combine innovation, respect for materials, and local cultural heritage. Crafts in Finland reflect a unique philosophy: beauty in practicality, honesty in materials, and harmony with the environment. Finnish artisans from silversmiths and textile weavers to puukko knife makers and ceramic artists merge traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics. This has shaped Finland’s reputation as a leader in design, known for quality and ethical production.

However, many small producers face challenges such as mass-produced imitations, global competition, and limited recognition for regionally distinctive products. This initiative supports Finland’s National Design Programme 2020–2030, the Cultural Heritage Strategy, and the Bioeconomy Strategy, all of which emphasise sustainability, innovation, and the safeguarding of heritage. It also strengthens local entrepreneurship and regional development, ensuring that craft traditions remain vibrant within the modern circular economy.

In summary, the CIGI system ensures:

1.) Improved global competitiveness:
Thanks to premium pricing opportunities, Finnish producers can invest in innovation, support international market access, and safeguard the reputation of Finnish names against misleading use abroad. 
2.) Enhanced tourism and cultural storytelling:
Visitors to Finland can more easily identify authentic local crafts, helping them support local communities and their cultural heritage.
3.) Protection of heritage and identity:
Centuries-old techniques, traditional patterns, and local production knowledge can now be protected under EU legislation.
3.) Strengthening of regional economies:
Craft workshops and small industrial clusters across Finland gain visibility, attract investment, and boost local employment.

HOW TO APPLY?
Producers can apply for geographical indication (GI) protection either through a registered association or individually if they are the sole producer of a given product. Applications must include a product specification detailing the product name, production stages, and defined geographical area of origin. Applications are submitted to the national competent authority. Examples of potential Finnish GI-protected products include Iittala glass, Rauma lace, and Luotolainen textiles.

In the Netherlands, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, producers must submit their applications directly to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), which is responsible for managing the process in these member states.

The registration procedure consists of two phases:

1. National phase: The competent authority first reviews the application and conducts a national opposition procedure.
2. EU-level phase: The application is then forwarded to EUIPO, which manages the EU-wide opposition procedure and makes the final decision on the protection and registration of the geographical indication for craft and industrial products.

The Commission reserves the right to intervene in certain cases where the protection and registration may affect public policy or the Union’s trade and external relations.

WHAT WILL CHANGE FOR FINNISH PRODUCERS?
From December 2025 onwards, Finnish craft and industrial producers will be able to apply for EU-wide Geographical Indication (GI) protection through the CIGI system. This marks a historic opportunity to safeguard products, strengthen market positioning and promote regional identity in European and global markets.

Who can apply:
Producers may apply for GI protection either through a registered association or individually, if they are the sole producer of a specific product. This ensures a collective approach to safeguarding quality, tradition and production standards.

Where to submit the application:
In Finland, applications are submitted directly to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

Timeline:
Applications open on 1 December 2025, and the first registrations are expected to be completed by mid-2026. Early applicants have the opportunity to set a benchmark for Finnish craft and industrial products across Europe.

Additional guidance and resources:
Application templates, instructions and contact information are available in the CIGI Hub managed by EUIPO. The Hub also provides information about financial and technical support for awareness-raising and capacity-building activities. Further details on the system are available on the website of the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW).

BACKGROUND
Geographical indications (GIs) are intellectual property rights that link the quality, reputation or characteristics of a product to its geographical origin. Under the new Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the EU is introducing a Union-wide system for the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products. This system builds on the highly successful GI framework for agricultural products, which has been in place for over 30 years, protecting more than 3,600 names and accounting for approximately €75 billion in annual sales—around 15% of the EU’s total exports of food and beverages.

The regulation adopted on 18 October 2023 establishes a harmonised EU-level system for GIs for craft and industrial products, enabling producers to prevent misuse of their product names and secure international protection.

Existing national geographical indications for craft and industrial products will cease to be valid one year after the new regulation enters into force, meaning by December 2026.

The system for craft and industrial product GIs is administered by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), under the oversight of the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW). The European Commission reserves the right to intervene in certain cases where registration may affect public policy or the Union’s trade and external relations.

LINKS 
DG GROW: Geographical indications for craft and industrial products
DG AGRI: Explanation of geographical indications and quality schemes – Agriculture and rural development
CIGI Portal (EUIPO): guidelines, forms and application steps

Photo: Getty Images