European Regulation 2023/2411 sets up a new system to protect at European level les craft and industrial products benefiting from the ‘protected geographical indication’ (PGI) logo.

This regulation has several objectives. It allows, for example, protection of common know-how and heritage, more reliability and guarantee of authenticity or even simpler and more efficient registration.

The PGI is a label that guarantees the geographical origin and quality of a product. For a product to benefit from this PGI, it is necessary that its origin, quality or reputation be known. At least one of the stages of production of the product must also have been carried out in the defined geographical area.

From now on, the registration of these products will have to be done in two successive phases:

• at the national level before the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI);
• at European level at the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).

During the examination phase of the application before the INPI, the oppositions shall be admissible. It is also possible to oppose the European Union level (before EUIPO). This procedure concerns persons originating in Member States or third States. Anyone who objects to registration with the PGI must be able to justify it by a legitimate interest.

The previous protected geographical indication system disappeared at 1^er December 2025. However, names recognized at national level have until December 2, 2026 to be notified to EUIPO and become European PGIs. This change can be made via a procedure simplified.

Here is the logo affixed to the products benefiting from a “ protected geographical indication at European level.