New protection for artisanal and industrial products

New protection for artisanal and industrial products

From December 1, 2025, a new Europe-wide protection for artisanal and industrial products will be implemented as geographical indications. The new system will serve to safeguard and develop cultural heritage in the artisanal and industrial sectors.

Traditional products, whose essential characteristics are linked to their origin, such as knives from Solingen, porcelain from Limoges or Herend or embroidery from Madeira, will thus benefit and increase their visibility.

This new form of protection is particularly important at a time when the craft and industrial professions are facing major challenges due to progressive rural depopulation and unfair competition from counterfeit and lower-value copies.

Artisanal products are products made entirely by hand, or with the help of manual or digital tools.

Industrial products are those manufactured in a standardized manner, including mass production and using machines.

To benefit from this protection handicraft and industrial products must meet these three criteria:

• The product must originate in a specific place, region, or country.

• Its specific quality, reputation, or other characteristic must be essentially attributable to its geographical origin.

• At least one of its production stages must take place in the defined geographical area.

The procedure will have two phases, one at the national level and one at the European level.

It will be a simple and efficient registration, allowing producers to focus on their core business and expand their sales in third countries.

In addition, clear labeling of artisanal and industrial products will address the lack of consumer awareness, all of which will help European consumers make informed purchasing decisions about authentic traditional products.

More information

Geographical indications for craft and industrial products - European Commission