In 2015, significant progress was made at the EU level towards the protection of non-agricultural products geographical indications (GIs).
On 6 October 2015, the EU Parliament adopted a resolution supporting the establishment of a single European system of protection of GIs for non-agricultural products and called the EU Commission to present without delay a legislative proposal. On 28 October 2105, the European Commission presented its Single Market Strategy for the next biennium in which it was mentioned the need to further work on the protection of non-agricultural GIs with the aim to add value to the Europe traditional know-how and support small businesses.
In light of the above, early this year, the EU Commission launched an impact study on non-agricultural GIs which might pave the way to a legislative proposal and oriGIn has been active to provide inputs in this respect.
In this framework, on 28 April, oriGIn and some of its members attended a seminar in Cordoba (Spain), a city well known for handcrafted jewellery. The event was co-organized by the Junta de Andalucia, Diputación de Cordoba and the Asociación Provincial de Joyeros, Plateros y Relojeros de Córdoba with the participation of the EU Commission, representatives of Spanish authorities, non-agricultural GI groups and experts: http://www.origin-gi.com/activities/policy-and-advocacy/item/8149-gi-protection-for-non-agricultural-products%E2%80%99-names-in-the-eu.html
On 28 June, a conference on “A possible extension of GIs to non-agricultural products: time for an EU legislation” was organised at the EU Parliament. The representatives of two oriGIn members – Mr. Pulido, Vice-president of oriGIn for Europe and President of the Association “Piel de Ubrique”, and Ms. Lorna Macaulay, Executive Secretary of the Harris Tweed Authority – delivered presentations in favour of a EU harmonized legislative framework on non-agricultural GIs. For more information see :
- Program
- A possible extension of GIs to the non agricultural products: Time for an EU legislation, Mr José Pulido, Vice-president of oriGIn for Europe and President of the Association “Piel de Ubrique”
- The experience of Harris Tweed, Ms Lorna Macaulay, Chief Executive, Harris Tweed Authority
The EU Commission said that, before embarking on a legislative proposal, it will present an Inception Impact Assessment on the extension of GIs to non-agricultural products. To facilitate this, on 12 october the DG GROW is organizing a workshop on non-agricultural GIs and sustained & sustainable economic growth within the “European Week of Regions and Cities 2016”, which will take place in Brussels from 10 to 13 October 2016 : http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/regions-and-cities/2016/index.cfm
This summary has been extracted from an “oriGIn Alert”, which is a service reserved exclusively to oriGIn members.
