Products with geographical indication will be able to be updated more easily in international registers.

Protected products by geographical indications will be able to have their name, category, or description updated in the international register after the modification is approved in the European Union. The new rules are intended to avoid situations where the same product appears differently in the European system and in the one managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

In short, what was decided: The Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament unanimously approved, with 25 votes, the mandate for updating EU rules on geographical indications. Why it matters: Producers will be able to modify in the international register the name of the product, its category, or the description of its qualities and reputation, options that were not previously available. What follows: The European Parliament must approve the mandate in plenary. After the vote, Parliament negotiators can begin discussions with member states on the final form of the legislation.

Geographical indications protect the names of products that come from a specific area and whose characteristics or reputation depend on their origin. Protection prevents the use of the name by producers whose products do not meet the established conditions.

The Committee on Legal Affairs of the European Parliament approved the changes with 25 votes in favor and no votes against. Parliamentarians will adapt Union legislation to the changes introduced in the international system for the protection of geographical indications.

The new provisions allow for the modification of the name of a geographical indication registered under the Geneva Act, as well as the change of the type of good or product. Authorities will also be able to update the description of the characteristics associated with the quality or reputation of the product.

The Geneva Act allows for the protection of geographical indications in multiple states through a single international registration. It is part of the Lisbon System, administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Once the European Union approves the change of a product's name or category, the European Commission will request the corresponding update in the international register. The procedure must maintain the same form of protection in European law and in the international system.

For artisanal and industrial products, applications will be submitted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. This category may include products such as ceramics, glassware, textiles, jewelry, or items made using traditional techniques, provided their name is protected in the EU.

Member states will be able to request, after approval at the Union level, changes regarding the description of the quality and reputation of a product. Unlike the update of the name and category, these changes will not be mandatory.

Parliamentarians have also introduced the possibility for the European Union to refuse protection for a product from a third country. The refusal may be applied if, after the change of the name or type of product, it can no longer be protected under European legislation.

The international changes that led to the revision of EU legislation were adopted in July 2025 and will apply from July 1, 2026. After the approval of the mandate by the plenary of Parliament, negotiations on the final text can begin with the Council of the European Union, the institution where the governments of the member states are represented.