GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS | New EU Regulation on Geographical Indications for wines, spirits and agricultural products

On 28 February 2024, the European Parliament adopted Regulation EC No. 2411/2023 (the “GI Regulation”) on Geographical Indications for wines, spirit drinks and agricultural products. Under the new GI Regulation, the GI registration process will be composed of a national phase followed by a European phase before the European Commission. The role of the EUIPO with respect to GI registration will be merely administrative and will be limited to maintaining a GI registry and managing a domain name information and alert system. The GI Regulation also introduces rules concerning the use of GIs in processed products and enhances GI protection to goods in transit. The protection also encompasses all domain names accessible from the EU, regardless of the place of establishment of the related registry. Lastly, the GI Regulation sets forth a new ground for revocation in the case of non-use for at least seven years. The GI Regulation is now expected to be published in the Official Journal by April 2024 and shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal, except for some provisions which shall apply as of 1 January 2025.

Newsletter n. 94 – March 2024