The Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has unanimously adopted a draft negotiating mandate on legislation to introduce geographical indications to protect the names of local craft and industrial products, including porcelain, jewellery and textiles.

The European Commission published a proposal for a Regulation on non-agricultural products in April last year. The text must now be approved by the Parliament as a whole before it is confirmed.

The bill proposes that non-agricultural GI applications would be examined by national/local authorities and EUIPO would then decide on registration. MEPs also proposed that EUIPO would cover the registration for member states that are not willing to establish a national authority.

They also supported the use of electronic applications and assistance for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

In a statement, rapporteur Marion Walsmann said: “It is time to create an EU-wide mechanism to protect specific European local skills and traditions relating to craft and industrial products. We designed an efficient European mechanism with minimal administrative burden and made it particularly attractive for MSMEs, since they will benefit from an easier application process and lower fees. This new mechanism will not just help traditional products also from less-developed regions to become known, attract tourists and create jobs, but it will also make consumers more aware of them, ensure fair competition for producers and help them fight counterfeit products.”

For more information on GIs, please consult a member of the MARQUES GI Team.