Two major legislative processes related to GIs are currently under discussion at the European level. oriGIn EU is following closely both dossiers.
On the one hand, in March the European Commission has proposed a EU geographical indications scheme (revision). Following that, the European Parliament and the Council have started to work on this reform. At the Parliament, Mr. Paolo De Castro (S&D, Italy) has been appointed rapporteur and is expected to present his first working document to the members of the Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament on August 31. His full report is expected in October. Amendments should be submitted by the Members of the European Parliament (MEP) by mid-November. oriGIn EU will work with its members to propose common amendments to MEP. The Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament will also play a role, with respect of those articles of the reform touching upon trademarks. The EU Member States are also working on this reform within the Council. Trilogue negotiations are expected to take place next year and an agreement on the reform should be reached by the end of 2023.
With respect to the revision of the EU geographical indications scheme, oriGIn EU priorities are: the simplification and streamlining of the procedures (to avoid unnecessary delays in registrations, amendments, …), meanwhile ensuring that DG AGRI remains fully in charge of the system; the improvement of the proposed rules concerning producers’ groups to make sure national specificities are taken into account; the clarification of the proposed rules on sustainability (in the current proposal sustainability is mainly referred to delegated acts); and more ambitious provisions on protection and controls (although robust rules are proposed with respect of GIs used as ingredients and internet domain names; those rules go in the right direction).
On the other hand, in April the European Commission has published the legislative proposal on Geographical indications for craft and industrial products. This will finally give the EU a system for the protection of non-agricultural geographical indications and make the EU legal framework in line with the WIPO Geneva Act on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications. The European Parliament and the Council have started to work also on this reform. Ms. Marion Walsmann (PPE, Germany) has been appointed as European parliament’s rapporteur for this dossier. The road map of this reform will be clearer after the summer.
With respect to geographical indications for craft and industrials products, oriGIn EU priorities are: the improvement of the proposed rules concerning producers’ groups and more ambitious provisions on protection and controls.
For more information on protection of Non-Agricultural Products’ Names in the EU please visit the dedicated page on our website.
