Adopted in 2023, Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 created an EU-wide protection system for craft and industrial geographical indications (CIGIs). Since it began to apply on 1 December 2025, the system has passed its first milestone: the EUIPO has received 100 applications from 12 Member States and registered 52 CIGIs.
Portugal leads in the number of filings (43), ahead of France (25) and Slovakia (11), while Spain, Italy, the Czech Republic and six other Member States have also submitted applications. Textiles and clothing form the largest product category, but the range is wide, from ceramics and glass to musical instruments and jewellery. Full details are available in the EUIPO infographic (PDF), and all registered and pending names can be consulted in the Union Register for CIGIs.
These first results show what the new framework can offer: opportunities for regional artisans and local communities, and recognition of the cultural heritage behind each product. With the system still becoming known, there is plenty of room for growth.
There has also been a first concrete step on enforcement. The first Application for Action (AFA) for a CIGI has been filed for ‘Porcelaine de Limoges’ through the EUIPO’s IP Enforcement Portal (IPEP). An AFA asks customs authorities to act against suspected infringing goods, bringing CIGIs into the customs enforcement framework already used for other IP rights and extending their protection to the EU’s borders.
To ensure consistent implementation, an Advisory Board for CIGIs has been set up at the EUIPO, bringing together representatives of the Member States, the European Commission and the EUIPO. The Board, which has adopted the guidelines for the examination of CIGI applications, held its second plenary meeting in Alicante on 5 October to take stock of progress.
Producer groups preparing an application can find guidance on the EUIPO’s e-learning portal, submit applications through GIportal and follow existing filings on GIview.
