GI Protection in Europe

The European Union

i. General description

In the European Union GIs are protected through a sui generis system.

ii. Legal framework

REGULATION (EU) 2024/1143 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 11 April 2024 on geographical indications for wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products, as well as traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural products, amending Regulations (EU) No 1308/2013, (EU) 2019/787 and (EU) 2019/1753 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012.

REGULATION (EU) 2023/2411 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products and amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753.

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013 establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No 922/72, (EEC) No 234/79, (EC) No 1037/2001 and (EC) No 1234/2007

Regulation (EU) 2019/787 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the definition, description, presentation and labelling of spirit drinks, the use of the names of spirit drinks in the presentation and labelling of other foodstuffs, the protection of geographical indications for spirit drinks, the use of ethyl alcohol and distillates of agricultural origin in alcoholic beverages, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 110/2008

iii. Practical information

GI View is a search database for Geographical Indications (GIs) protected at European Union level.

e-Ambrosia is the European Union geographical indications register.

Switzerland

i. General description

In Switzerland GIs are protected through sui generis system.

ii. Legal framework

Federal Law on the protection of Trademarks and Indication of Source of 28 August 1992, amended 17 June 2005

Ordinance on the Protection of Appellation of Origin and Geographical Indications in Respect of Agricultural Products of 28 May 1997, entered into force on 1 July 1997

The Federal law on Agriculture of 29 April 1998

Ordinance of November 14, 2007 on the Viticulture and Importation of Wine

iii. Practical Information

The Federal Office of Agriculture is the authority responsible for registration of GIs.

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