Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1956

Contents

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753^note, and in particular Article 9(2), Article 11(4), Article 20(9), Article 22(9), Article 25(9), Article 27(4), Article 30(6), Article 31(11), Article 32(10), Article 37(7), Article 38(2), Article 48(8), Article 62(4) and Article 65(6),Having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2019/1754 of 7 October 2019 on the accession of the European Union to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications^note,Whereas:

(1)Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 establishes a single common Union framework for the registration and protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

(2)To ensure the smooth functioning of the market of geographical indications for craft and industrial products, and uniform conditions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, certain rules have to be adopted by means of an implementing act. These rules are necessary in the following areas: application for registration, opposition procedure, amendments to the product specification, cancellation procedure, Union register, digital system for electronic submission of applications, use of a Union symbol, indication and abbreviation, fees to be charged by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (the ‘Office’), mutual assistance and cooperation between Member States in controls and enforcement and communications.

(3)For the sake of clarity, consistency and transparency, formalities for the application for registration at Union phase of a geographical indication for geographical indications originating within and outside the Union should be laid down.

(4)For the purposes of the application for registration of a geographical indication, the conditions in which a single producer may qualify as an eligible applicant should be defined. The single producer should substantiate that these conditions are met, a simple statement is not sufficient. Single producers should not be excluded from the possibility to apply for the registration of a geographical indication, if certain circumstances prevent them from the creation of a producer group. However, it should be clarified that the protected name may be used by other producers established in the defined geographical area provided the conditions laid down in the product specification are met, even where the protected name consists of or contains the name of the holding of the single producer.

(5)Where a craft or industrial product bearing a geographical indication can only be packaged within a defined geographical area according to the product specification, this may constitute a restriction on the free movement of goods and freedom to provide services as provided for in Articles 26, 36, 52 and 62 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. In light of the case-law of the Court of Justice, such restrictions may be imposed only if they are necessary and proportionate to safeguard quality, to certify the origin of the product or to ensure control. It is therefore necessary to ensure that any rules on packaging are duly justified.

(6)Applications for protection are examined by the national competent authorities of the Member State concerned through a preliminary national procedure, except in the direct registration procedure (‘direct registrations’), where the applications are lodged directly with the Office. Pursuant to Article 9(1), point (d), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, Member States and, in the case of direct registrations, the Office are to pay particular attention to the description of the link between a specific quality, reputation or other characteristic and the geographical origin of the product, taking into account the defined geographical area and the characteristics of the product. The definition of the defined geographical area should therefore be sufficiently detailed, precise and unambiguous so that producers, the competent authorities and the product certification bodies and natural persons designated for control tasks can ascertain whether operations are being carried out within its boundaries.

(7)Member States have knowledge, expertise and access to data and facts that make them the best placed to assess whether an application concerning a geographical indication fulfils the conditions for protection. Therefore, Member States should guarantee that the result of this assessment, which is to be recorded in a single document summarising the relevant elements of the product specification, is reliable and accurate. Having regard to the principle of subsidiarity, the Office should subsequently examine applications to ensure that there are no manifest errors. In standard procedures, the Office focuses its examination primarily on the single document. However, in situations when the single document is not sufficiently clear, or when doubts arise about the single document being a faithful summary of the product specification, the Office may cross-check the single document with the product specification in the standard procedure and, where necessary, take steps to ensure that any possible inconsistencies are addressed. In the event of third-country applications and direct registrations, the Office should cross-check the single document with the product specification to avoid possible differences. Where the application is for direct registration, the Office should examine direct applications on substance with the assistance of the single point of contact appointed by the Member States.

(8)In the standard procedures the competent authority of the Member State, in direct registrations, the applicant and in third-country applications, the applicant or the competent authority in the third country, depending on who submitted the application, should guarantee that the single document is summarising faithfully the relevant elements of the product specification.

(9)The parties in the opposition procedure may agree to use alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, to reach a friendly settlement. They are free to choose the mediator, be it provided by the Office or another mediator. The parties to the opposition procedure and, if applicable, the respective Member States, may agree to share the cost of the fees, if any, in good faith of the alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation.

(10)In the event of a product that originates in a cross-border geographical area, several applicants from different Member States, from Member States and third countries, or from third countries may lodge a joint application for registration of a geographical indication for such a product. In this case, it should be specified where the Office should address the notifications or decisions.

(11)In the interest of clarity, certain steps of the procedure governing an application for registration of a geographical indication for craft and industrial products should be set out in detail. Such additional details should provide the clarification required for legal certainty and transparency as well as for guaranteeing the smooth conduct of the different procedures to the benefit of the users of the system for the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products.

(12)Publication of personal data should be avoided, unless necessary for the exercise of the rights guaranteed by the procedures.

(13)Additional rules regarding applications for direct registration and the Office’s cooperation with the single points of contact indicated by Member States should be laid down.

(14)In order to ensure a uniform and efficient registration procedure, it is necessary to establish uniform content for the single document. A limit to the length of the single document, including in the case of direct registrations, should be set out in order to have a more streamlined process to achieve standardisation. However, this limit to the length of the single document does not prevent applicants from going beyond it in duly justified cases, in particular, where several and complex production steps are defined in the product specification.

(15)The product specification for protected geographical indications should include the measures taken to ensure that the product originates in the defined geographical area. Those measures should be clear, objective and appropriate so that the product, know-how, the raw materials, if applicable, and other items coming from the defined geographical area can be traced.

(16)For the smooth functioning of the system, procedures for applications, oppositions, amendments of the products specification and cancellations should be provided for.

(17)When the Commission takes over the power to decide on an individual application for registration, a request for amendment of the product specification or a request for cancellation, under the conditions set out in Article 30 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, a procedure should be established.

(18)For the sake of legal certainty, the format and online presentation of the accompanying documents required should be laid down.

(19)Union amendments of the product specification should mutatis mutandis comply with the procedure governing applications for registration to ensure the same efficiency and guarantees. The procedure for standard amendments and temporary amendments should be established to allow Member States, and where applicable the Office, to carry out an appropriate assessment of the applications and to guarantee a consistent approach across the Union. The accuracy and exhaustiveness of Member States’ and the Office’s assessment of amendments should be equivalent to the accuracy and exhaustiveness required for the assessment process within the procedure governing application for registration.

(20)Standard amendments and temporary amendments related to the protected geographical indications of third countries should follow the approach that is to be provided for Member States and the Office, and the approval decision of such amendments should be taken in accordance with the system in force in the relevant third country.

(21)The cancellation procedure should be transparent and clear. To that end, the cancellation procedure should follow, mutatis mutandis, the procedure governing applications for registration, and in particular, it should be possible to oppose the cancellation request.

(22)In the context of the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products, a unitary and exhaustive system of geographical indications should contribute significantly to increased awareness, recognition and consumer understanding of the symbol, indications, abbreviations, both in the Union and in third countries. To ensure that appropriate information is communicated to the consumer, the technical characteristics of the Union symbol designed to publicise protected geographical indications, together with the corresponding abbreviation and the rules of the use thereof should be specified.

(23)To ensure that uniform and efficient procedures are in place, electronic forms for submitting applications for registration, oppositions, notice of comments, Union amendments, standard amendments and temporary amendments, notification of end of consultation following the opposition procedure and requests for cancellation of a registration should be provided.

(24)Geographical indications protected in the Union by virtue of an international registration under the Geneva Act or under international agreements of which the European Union is a party may be entered in the Union register, when the Commission so decides in accordance with Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

(25)To ensure transparency and uniformity across Member States, it is necessary to adopt rules on the information technology (‘IT’) architecture and presentation of the Union register of geographical indications for craft and industrial products (‘the Union register’).

(26)The Office is to put in place a digital system for the electronic submission of applications to the Office, the Union register and the digital portal with the names and contact details of the competent authorities and product certification bodies and natural persons designated for control tasks. The Office, Member States, the Commission and the applicant should use this digital system for electronic submission of applications in the procedures established through this Regulation.

(27)To ensure effective and efficient communication in the context of mutual cooperation and assistance between Member States in controls and enforcement, detailed rules should be defined in this Regulation, in particular on the information that may be exchanged, the modalities of the assistance competent authorities provide to each other, including the possibility to conduct official communications through an information management system. On the latter, the Commission may make available an information management system.

(28)The manner in which the Office is to make the information concerning protected geographical indications for craft and industrial products accessible to the public should be laid down to ensure transparency and legal certainty.

(29)If, upon the Commission’s request, the Management Board and Budget Committee of the Office decides to establish a fee rebate mechanism in cooperation with the Commission, it should be established in a way that takes into account the needs of micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (‘MSMEs’). The Office should consider using the existing or establishing a new MSMEs support scheme in cooperation with the Commission, with a view to ensure the accessibility and affordability of the system for these producers or producer groups.

(30)To ensure a uniform approach to the communication and publication of all notifications, communications, documents and information required for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and the related provisions of this Regulation and Commission Delegated Regulation C(2025) 9101^note certain rules need to be laid down.

(31)The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee for Craft and Industrial Geographical Indications,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Section I · General provisions

Article 1Subject matter#

This Regulation lays down rules relating to:

(1)the application for registration;

(2)the opposition procedure;

(3)amendments to the product specifications;

(4)the cancellation procedure;

(5)the Union register;

(6)the digital system for the electronic submission of applications;

(7)the use of the Union symbol, indication and abbreviation;

(8)fees;

(9)the mutual assistance and cooperation between Member States in controls and enforcement;

(10)communications.

Article 2Definitions#

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(1)‘accompanying documentation’ means the documents laid down in Article 11(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(2)‘digital system’ as referred to in Article 67 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 means the digital system for the electronic submission of applications to the Office;

(3)‘national phase decision’ means a decision referred to in Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 taken by the competent authority of a Member State;

(4)‘producer’ means an operator engaged in one or more production steps for craft and industrial products;

(5)‘producer group’ means any association, irrespective of its legal form, mainly composed of producers working with the same product concerned;

(6)‘Regulation (EU) 2023/2411’ means Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products and amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753;

(7)‘single document’ means a document referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 that is comprised in the application;

(8)‘single producer’ means an applicant that complies with the requirements laid down in Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(9)‘standard amendment to the product specification’ means an amendment to the product specification as defined in Article 31(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(10)‘temporary amendment to product specifications’ means an amendment to the product specification as defined in Article 31(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(11)‘Union amendment’ means an amendment to the product specification as defined in Article 31(3) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Section 2 · Application for registration

Article 3Single producer#

1.When filing an application for registration of a geographical indication, the single producer referred to in Article 8(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall provide appropriate explanations and evidence to prove that the cumulative conditions specified in that Article are fulfilled.

2.If a protected geographical indication, consists of, or contains the name of the holding of the single producer, this shall not prevent other producers from using that name provided that they comply with the product specification.

Article 4Notification of the application for registration#

The Office shall inform the Commission about all applications for registration received under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 within one month after their submission.

Article 5Existing names#

1.The information obligation of an interested Member State towards the Office under Article 70(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be fulfilled by submitting to the Office, through the digital system or to its dedicated functional mailbox, the existing names the Member State wishes to register and protect under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and the corresponding applications in line with Article 70(4) of that Regulation.

2.The information obligation of an interested Member State towards the Commission under Article 70(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be fulfilled by submitting to the Commission, to its dedicated functional mailbox, the existing names the Member State wishes to register and protect under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

3.Failure to complete any of the submissions outlined in paragraphs 1 and 2 by 2 December 2026 shall result in the information specified under Article 70(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 being considered as not filed.

4.The applications accompanying the existing names will be processed in accordance with Article 70(4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Article 6Joint applications#

1.In case the joint application concerns only Member States that got a derogation in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the joint application shall be submitted to the Office by one of the applicants.

2.In case the joint application concerns a Member State that got a derogation in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and another Member State under the standard procedure, the joint application shall be submitted to the Office by the competent authority of that Member State under the standard procedure.

3.In case the joint application concerns a Member State that got a derogation in accordance with Article 19(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and a third country, the joint application shall be submitted to the Office by the applicant in the Member State.

4.The Office shall send any notification or decision to the competent authority of the Member State, to the applicant in the Member State or to the competent authority of the third country or the applicant in a third country which submitted to the Office a joint application for registration in accordance with Article 22(4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article.

Article 7Product specification#

1.The product specification, referred to in Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, when submitted to the Office according to Article 22 of that Regulation, when applicable, shall be provided on the form made available online by the Office and submitted to the Office through the digital system.

2.For procedures under Article 21, points (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the Office shall make the product specification public in the Union register in the language as filed by the applicant.

Article 8Proof of origin#

1.The product specification for a protected geographical indication shall contain the procedures which producers must have in place as regards the proof of origin concerning:

(a)the product;

(b)raw materials, if applicable; and

(c)other items that, according to the product specification, are required to come from the defined geographical area.

2.Any restrictions on the origin of raw materials, if applicable, provided in the product specification of a product the name of which is registered as a protected geographical indication shall be justified in relation to the link referred to in point 9(1), point (d), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

3.Producers shall have the ability:

(a)to identify the supplier, quantity and origin of the raw material, if applicable, and/or products received, if any, and the recipient, quantity and destination of products supplied; and

(b)to provide evidence that the product is manufactured in compliance with the production steps defined in the product specifications.

Article 9Description of several distinct products#

1.Where the application for registration of a name or approval of an amendment refers to two or more distinct products which are entitled to use that name, compliance with the requirements for registration shall be shown separately for each such product.

2.For the purposes of this Article, the term ‘distinct products’ means products that, although they use the same registered name, are differentiated when placed on the market or considered as different products by consumers. It may also refer to craft and industrial products covered by different classifications under the Combined Nomenclature referred to in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87^note.

Article 10Presentation of the single document#

1.In situations under Article 21, point (a) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the competent authority of the Member State, in situations under Article 21, point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the applicant, and in situations under Article 21, point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, which submitted the single document to the Office, shall ensure that the single document is a faithful summary of the product specification and that there is no substantial divergence between them. Where an inconsistency is found after the registration of the geographical indication, in situations under Article 21, point (a) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the competent authority of the Member State, in situations under Article 21, point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the applicant, and in situations under Article 21, point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, shall take the necessary measures to remedy that inconsistency.

2.The names of the natural or legal persons included in the single document shall be published.

3.The single document shall be concise and not exceed 2500 words, except in duly justified cases.

4.The single document shall be drawn up in accordance with Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and submitted through the digital system.

Article 11Accompanying documentation#

The accompanying documentation shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office.

Article 12Definition of the geographical area in the application for registration#

The geographical area shall be defined in a precise and unambiguous way, referring as far as possible to physical or administrative boundaries and where possible also providing a map.

Article 13Changes to the product specification in the course of the application procedure#

1.If, following the exchanges referred to in Article 23(4) and 23(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 between the Office and the competent authority of the Member State concerned, changes are made to the product specification, the competent authority of that Member State shall update the single document and ensure that the electronic reference to the publication of the product specification leads to its updated version.

2.If the competent authority of the Member State considers that the changes to the product specification are substantial, thus affecting interests that had not been considered in the national opposition procedure carried out in accordance with Article 15 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, those changes shall be subject to an additional national opposition procedure. In that additional national opposition procedure, the competent authority of the Member State shall ensure that any natural or legal person with a legitimate interest, who is established or resident in the territory of that Member State and, affected by those changes, is allowed to submit an opposition before the updated version of the single document, adapted to the updated product specification, is communicated to the Office.

3.In the case of direct registrations, if, following the exchanges referred to in Article 14(8) and (9) of this Regulation, changes are made to the product specification, the applicant, shall update the single document.

4.If, following the exchanges referred to in paragraph 1, changes to the product specification are required for an application concerning a geographical indication originating in a third country, the applicant or competent authority of the third country, as applicable, shall update the single document and the product specification, and communicate those changes to the Office.

Article 14Examination procedure of the Office#

1.In standard procedures, the Office shall focus its examination primarily on the single document, however, in the event of third-country applications and direct registrations, the Office shall cross-check the single document with the product specification to avoid possible differences.

10.In the case of direct registrations, pursuant to Article 20(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the Office shall send through the digital system to the single point of contact its specific requests for clarification, shall indicate the specific aspects that the single point of contact is to examine and/or verify and shall indicate when a declaration is to be issued to verify that information. The Office in its examination shall rely on the declarations issued by the single point of contact.

11.In case of direct registrations, pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the Office shall archive all written communications with the single point of contact, that relate to the examination carried out by the Office.

2.In direct registrations, the Office shall examine the applications with the assistance of the single point of contact appointed by the Member States.

3.If an application does not meet the criteria referred to in Article 23(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, when addressing the observations under Article 23(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the Office shall notify to the applicant and to the competent authority of the Member State from where the product originates, or in the case of direct registrations, the applicant, or, in the case of third-country applications, to the applicant or to the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, in the language the application was submitted, the following:

(a)the grounds for possible rejection;

(b)the deadline referred to in Article 23(6) of that Regulation for the rejection or correction or completion of the application or for the submission of comments;

(c)information that the application will be rejected if it is not completed or corrected within the deadline.

4.In case the applicant decides to withdraw the application, in the standard procedure, the competent authority of the Member State, in the case of direct registrations, the applicant, and in the case of third-country applications, the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, shall inform the Office, through the digital system, about the withdrawal of the application. Withdrawn applications shall be deemed not filed.

5.The decision, in accordance with Article 29(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, stating the grounds for rejection shall be notified, to the applicant and the competent authority of the Member State from where the product originates, or in the case of direct registrations, to the applicant, and in the case of third-country applications, to the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable.

6.If the Geographical Indications Division, as established by Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 (‘Geographical Indication Division’) decides to consult the Advisory Board during the examination procedure as referred to in Article 23(5) of that Regulation, the applicant and the competent authority of the Member State and the applicant or competent authority of the third country, as applicable, from where the product originates, shall be notified through the digital system, of such consultation and of the suspension of the examination period as referred to in Article 23(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

7.The Geographical Indications Division shall notify the opinion of the Advisory Board to the applicant and the competent authority or single point of contact of the Member State, in the official Union languages of the respective Member States and to the applicant or competent authority of the third country, as applicable, from where the product originates in the official Union language of submission of the application for registration.

8.In addition to paragraph 3, in the case of direct registrations, the Office shall examine if the application complies with the requirements referred to in Articles 6 and 8 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

9.In the case of direct registrations, pursuant to Article 20(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, when addressing the observations under Article 23(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, when needed, the Office shall send the request to the applicant to provide supplementary information. The Office shall also notify the single point of contact about the request.

Article 15Challenges to the national phase decision#

The competent authorities of the Member States shall send the information referred to in Article 24(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 to the Office through the digital system in any of the official languages of the Union.

Section 3 · Opposition procedure

Article 16Procedural rules for opposition#

1.The opposition as referred to in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall contain:

(a)the reasoned statement of opposition referred to in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(b)the nationality of the opponent, if a natural person; and

(c)an authorisation to the Office to notify the opposition to the applicant and to the competent authority or single point of contact of the Member State or third country from where the product originates and, if applicable, to the competent authority or single point of contact of the Member State or third country where the opponent is established or resides, including any personal data.

10.The Geographical Indications Division shall notify the opinion of the Advisory Board to the applicant and the opponent and the competent authority or the single point of contact of the Member State, in the official Union languages of the respective Member States, and to the applicant and opponent or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, from where the product originates and where the opponent is established or resides, into the official Union language of submission of the application for registration.

11.The applicant shall communicate the outcome of the consultations referred to in Article 25(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 to the Office through its digital system using the form available in the digital system. The Office shall notify the competent authority and the single point of contact of the Member State or, as applicable, the competent authority of the third country, from where the product originates and where the opponent is established or resides, about the outcome of the consultations. With the notification, the Office shall invite the Member State, from where the product originates, to indicate whether it considers necessary to carry out an additional national opposition procedure in accordance with Article 16(15) of this Regulation.

12.The notification of the outcome of the consultations referred to in Article 25(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall contain:

(a)the name published in the Union register to which the opposition relates;

(b)the file number and the name in the Union register to which the opposition relates;

(c)the name of the opponent or opponents;

(d)the documented outcome of consultations;

(e)an indication whether the single document or product specification has been amended and a description of such amendments.

13.If the product specification has been amended, the electronic reference to the publication of the product specification published in accordance with Article 23(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall lead to the updated product specification. In the case of direct registrations and third-country applications, the updated product specification shall be notified to the Office.

14.If the single document has been amended, the amended single document shall be resubmitted through the digital system.

15.In case the competent authority of the Member States considers that the consequent changes to the product specification made during the consultations referred to in Article 25(4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 are substantial, thus affecting interests that had not been considered in the national opposition procedure carried out in accordance with Article 15 of that Regulation, those changes shall be subject to an additional opposition procedure. The competent authorities of the Member States from where the product originates, shall be allowed to carry out the additional opposition procedure after being notified about the outcome of the consultation referred to in Article 25(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411. In that additional opposition procedure, the competent authority of the Member State shall ensure that any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest, affected by those changes, and established or resident in the territory of the Member State in question is allowed to submit an opposition before the amended version of the single document and of the product specification is communicated to the Office, in view of repeating the examination as referred to in Article 25(8) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411. For the period of the additional national opposition procedure, the procedure at Union phase is suspended. If after the additional opposition, the competent authority of the Member State refuses the application, the competent authority shall inform the Office, through the digital system, about the withdrawal of the application.

2.The opposition as referred to in Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 may also contain supporting documents, where relevant.

3.The opposition shall be submitted to the Office through its digital system. The Office shall inform the Commission about the opposition within one month after the expiry of the opposition period.

4.If the opposition does not contain the authorisation referred to in paragraph 1, point (c) or the opposition is received by the Office outside the period referred to in Article 25(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the Office shall notify the opponent about this deficiency and the opponent shall have seven calendar days to complete the opposition, otherwise the opposition shall be deemed not filed.

5.When the Office receives an opposition pursuant to Article 25(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, it shall notify the opposition as soon as possible to the applicant and the competent authority of the Member State from where the product originates, in the case of direct registrations, to the applicant and the single point of contact, in the language as filed, together with a verified machine translation of it into the relevant official Union languages. In the case of third-country applications, the Office shall notify the opposition to the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, in the language as filed, together with a verified machine translation of it into the official Union language in which the application was filed.

6.The period not exceeding three months referred to in Article 25(4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall commence on the date on which the invitation to engage in consultations is notified to the parties through the digital system. The Office shall also notify the competent authority or the single point of contact of the Member State or, as applicable, the competent authority of the third country, from where the product originates and, if applicable, where the opponent is established or resides, about the consultation. The opponent and the applicant shall start such consultations without undue delay.

7.Where applicable, the competent authority of the Member State or third country from where the product originates and the competent authority of the Member State or third country where the opponent is established or resides may join the consultations, assisting the applicant or the opponent.

8.The Office shall provide detailed information through the digital system to the applicant, opponent and the competent authority and single point of contact of the Member State or, as appliable, the competent authority of the third country, from where the product originates and where the opponent is established or resides, on the availability of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, for the consultations between the applicant and the opponent, as referred to in Article 170 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 of the European Parliament and of the Council^note. In addition, the Office shall provide information about the possibility of making use of mediation services other than the ones offered by the Office. The information shall be provided in the relevant official language of the Member States from where the product originates and where the opponent is established or resides or in the case of a third-country applicant or opponent, in the official Union language in which the third-country applicant or opponent filed its application or opposition.

9.If the Geographical Indications Division decides to consult the Advisory Board during the opposition procedure as referred to in Article 25(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the applicant, the opponent and the competent authority of the Member State, and the single point of contact or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, from where the product originates and where the opponent is established or resides, shall be notified through the digital system, of such consultation and of the suspension of the consultation period as referred to in Article 25(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Article 17Submission of notice of comments#

1.The notice of comments referred to in Article 27 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office and submitted to the Office using the digital system.

2.The notice of comments shall contain, at least, the following information:

(a)the name of the geographical indication as published in the Union register;

(b)the file number as entered in the Union register;

(c)name and contact details of the natural or legal person or authority submitting the notice of comments;

(d)observations indicating the inaccuracies in the application, in the opinion of the person or authority submitting the notice of comment; and

(e)the authorisation to the Office to forward the whole notice of comments to the applicant, to the competent authority of the Member State from where the product originates, and, in the case of third-country applications, to the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, with the personal data included if any.

3.Where the notice of comments does not contain the information listed in paragraph 2, it shall be deemed not filed.

4.When the Office receives a notice of comment pursuant to Article 27(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, it shall notify the notice of comment to the applicant, the competent authority of the Member State from where the product originates and in the case of direct registrations, to the applicant and the single point of contact, in the language as filed, together with a verified machine translation of it in the relevant official Union language of that Member State. In the case of third-country applications, the Office shall notify the notice of comment to the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, in the language as filed, together with a verified machine translation of it into the official Union language in which the application was filed.

5.The observation referred to in point (d) of paragraph 2 shall comply with the requirements of Article 27(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

6.The Office may, based on the information contained in the notice of comments, suspend the opposition procedure, if applicable, and, where appropriate, proceed in accordance with Article 23(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

7.In the event that, following the notice of comments there is a change in the product specification or single document, the Office shall inform the opponent, if any, and, if applicable, the competent authority of the Member State or the competent authority of the third country where the opponent is established or resides, of such change and request the opponent to either withdraw the opposition or continue with the proceedings.

8.In the case of substantial changes to the product specification or single document, the procedure provided for in Article 25(8) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall apply.

Section 4 · Amendments to the product specification

Article 18Request for Union amendments#

1.A request for Union amendments to a product specification as referred to in Article 31 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, shall contain:

(a)the protected name to which the amendment relates;

(b)the name of the Member State or the third country to which the geographical area belongs;

(c)an indication whether it is the applicant in accordance with Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 as provided for in the Union register or a producer using the geographical indication in accordance with Article 47(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 requesting the Union amendment;

(d)the headings in the product specification and in the single document affected by the amendment;

(e)the reasons as to why the amendment falls under Article 31(3) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(f)a description of and the reasons for, each of the amendments requested;

(g)an indication of any standard amendments inextricably linked to the Union amendments;

(h)the consolidated single document, as amended;

(i)for requests under Article 21, point (a) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the electronic reference to the publication of the consolidated product specification as amended;

(j)for requests under Article 21, point (b) and (c), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the consolidated product specification, as amended;

(k)for requests under Article 21, point (c) Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, proof that the requested amendment complies with the laws on protection of geographical indications in force in the relevant third country;

(l)the declaration by the competent authority of the Member State that it considers that the request meets the requirements set out in Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

2.The Office shall receive separately and shall not publish as part of the application:

(a)the name and contact details of the competent authority of the Member State or, of the applicant or of the competent authority of the third country, which requested in the Union phase of the procedure the approval of a Union amendment of the product specification;

(b)the name and contact details of the applicant, which requested the national phase of the procedure for approval of a Union amendment of the product specification, indicating whether it is a producer group;

(c)any accompanying documentation, as appropriate.

3.A request for a Union amendment to the product specification and the amended single document shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office and submitted to the Office using the digital system.

4.The competent authority of the Member States, in the case of direct registrations, the applicant, and in the case of third-country requests, the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, shall ensure consistency between the request for approval of a Union amendment and the consolidated product specification and that there is no substantial divergence between them. The amendments listed in the request for approval of a Union amendment shall correspond to the amendments made to the product specification. Where an inconsistency is found after the approval of a Union amendment, in the standard procedure, the competent authority of the Member State, in the case of direct registrations, the applicant, and in the case of third-country applications, the applicant or the competent authority of the third country, as applicable, shall take the necessary measures to remedy that inconsistency.

5.A request for a Union amendment shall be concise and not exceed 5000 words, including a single document, except in duly justified cases.

6.For the purposes of Article 31(2) of this Regulation, in addition to the documents and information referred thereto, as amended, the Office shall publish in the Union register the request for a Union amendment to the product specification.

7.Article 4, Articles 6-17 and Articles 27-28 of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis to the request for Union amendment to the product specification.

8.This Article shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to requests for standard amendments to the product specification registered pursuant to Article 21, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Article 19Standard amendments to product specification#

1.Requests for approval of a standard amendment to the product specification shall be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State in whose territory the geographical area of the product concerned is located.

10.Where the geographical area covers more than one Member State, if one or more of the competent authorities of the Member States concerned refuse the request for a standard amendment or do not take any action to adopt the national approval decision for the adoption of standard amendments by the respective Member State or Member States, the competent authorities of any of the Member States concerned by the cross-border geographical area, may submit that request under the Union amendment procedure for the Office to take a decision. In this case the competent authority of the Member State that submitted the request for approval of the Union amendment shall demonstrate that the standard amendment procedure failed to conclude in one or more Member States where the geographical indication originates. The related Union opposition procedure shall be open for Member States and the natural and legal persons resident or established in those Member States, except for the Member State that submitted the request for approval of the Union amendment and the natural and legal persons resident or established in that Member State.

11.Paragraphs 9 and 10 shall apply mutatis mutandis where a part of the geographical area concerned is located in the territory of a third country. Nevertheless, when the standard amendment concerns the territory of a Member State and a third country, the obligation to send the Office the communication remains in the Member State.

2.The competent authority of the Member States may provide that the request for standard amendment is published for opposition at national level. If national opposition is not provided for, and if the request for approval of a standard amendment to the product specification does not come from the applicant that had submitted the application for protection of the name or names to which the product specification refers, the competent authority of the Member State shall give that applicant the opportunity to comment on the request.

3.The request for approval of a standard amendment shall provide a description of the standard amendments, a summary of the reasons for which the amendments are required and the reasons for which the proposed amendments qualify as standard in accordance with Article 31(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

4.Where the competent authority of the Member State considers that the requirements of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and the provisions adopted pursuant to that Regulation are met, it may approve the standard amendment. The approval decision shall include, where relevant, the amended consolidated product specification and, where relevant, the amended consolidated single document.

5.The approval decision shall be made public by the competent authority of the Member State concerned. The approved standard amendment shall be applicable in the Member State following the applicable national rules for entry into force.

6.In case the standard amendment requires an amendment of the single document, the Office shall make public in the Union register within three months after the date on which it received the communication of a standard amendment:

(a)the description of the standard amendment; and

(b)the amended single document.

7.In case the standard amendment does not require an amendment of the single document, the Office shall make public in the Union register, in the language as received, the description of the standard amendment, within three months after the date on which it has received the communication of that standard amendment.

8.Standard amendments shall be applicable in the territory of the Union from the date on which they have been made public pursuant to paragraphs 6 and 7, as applicable.

9.Where the geographical area covers more than one Member State, the competent authority of each Member State concerned shall apply the procedure for standard amendments separately. The competent authorities of the relevant Member States shall notify each other about the national approval decision and, upon request, give update to each other about the progress of the national procedure. The standard amendment shall be applicable in the territory of the Member States concerned only after the last national approval decision becomes applicable. The competent authority of the Member State that is the last to approve the standard amendment shall send the Office the relevant communication not later than one month following the date on which its approval decision was made public.

Article 20Relationship between Union and standard amendments#

1.Where a standard amendment requiring an amendment of the single document is approved while a request for approval of a Union amendment is pending, the competent authority of the Member State concerned shall update the single document included in the request for approval of a Union amendment accordingly.

2.If the pending Union amendment has been published in the Union register, for opposition, the updated version of the single document shall also be published in the Union register as an annex to the decision approving the Union amendment.

3.Where the amended version of the single document included in a standard amendment application approved at national level does not take into account the latest Union amendments that have been approved, that amended version shall not be made public by the Office. The competent authority of the Member State that had approved that standard amendment shall send to the Office the consolidated version of the single document as amended by both the Union and the standard amendments for publication in the Union register.

4.This article applies mutatis mutandis also to applications submitted under Article 21, point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Article 21Standard amendments linked to Union amendments#

A standard amendment included in an application for Union amendment that is inextricably linked to the pending Union amendment shall be considered as part of that Union amendment and shall be approved by the Office together with the Union amendment under the same procedure.

Article 22Temporary amendments to product specifications#

1.Temporary amendments to product specifications shall be approved and made public by the competent authority of the Member State in whose territory the defined geographical area of the name concerned is located. Temporary amendments may concern a part of the geographical area.

2.Temporary amendments shall be communicated to the Office not later than one month following the date on which the national approval decision was made public. That communication shall indicate the reasons for the temporary amendments.

3.The temporary amendment shall be applicable in the Member State according to the applicable national rules.

4.Each temporary amendment shall apply for a limited period of time set out by the competent authority approving such amendment. It may only be renewed if the exceptional circumstances, referred to in Article 31(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, and if reasons for which it had been approved still exist. A renewal of temporary amendments shall be communicated to the Office following the procedure provided for the communication of temporary amendments referred to in Article 24.

5.Where the geographical area covers more than one Member State, the procedure for temporary amendments shall apply separately in the Member States concerned for the part of the area which falls within their respective territory.

6.Temporary amendments concerning geographical indications originating in third countries shall be communicated to the Office not later than one month following their approval. That communication shall indicate the reasons for the temporary amendments.

7.The Office shall make public the communication of temporary amendment via its digital system within three months after the date on which it has received the communication of that temporary amendment, in the language as received. A temporary amendment shall be applicable in the territory of the Union from the date on which it was made public by the Office.

8.This Article does not apply to procedures referred to in Article 21, point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Article 23Communications of standard amendments#

1.The communication of an approved standard amendment to the product specification shall contain:

(a)the protected name to which the standard amendment relates;

(b)the Member State or third country to which the geographical area belongs;

(c)the name of the Member State or third country communicating the standard amendment to the product specification to the Office;

(d)the reasons as to why the amendment falls under Article 31(2), point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(e)a description of the approved amendment, indicating whether the amendment leads to an amendment of the single document;

(f)the decision approving the standard amendment as referred to in Article 31(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(g)where relevant, the consolidated single document, as amended;

(h)the electronic reference to the publication of the consolidated product specification, as amended.

10.The competent authority that communicated a standard amendment to product specification to the Office shall remain responsible for its content.

11.This Article does not apply to procedures referred to in Article 21, point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

2.Where the communication is made by the competent authority of a Member State, it shall include a declaration referred to in Article 22(1), point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

3.In the case of third-country requests, the communication, in addition to information listed in paragraph 1, shall include proof that the amendment is applicable in the third country. It shall include the product specification as made public instead of the electronic reference to the publication thereto.

4.A communication of an approved standard amendment shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office and submitted to the Office using the digital system.

5.The contact details of the competent authorities of the Member State or third country communicating the standard amendment to the Office, shall be communicated separately. The contact details of the competent authorities shall not be published as part of the communication. Their names, however, shall be published.

6.The competent authority of the Member State shall communicate, without undue delay, to the Office:

(a)any final national judgments annulling a decision approving a standard amendment;

(b)the amended consolidated single document, including an electronic reference to the product specification, or in the case of an amendment not modifying the single document, only the latter, updated following the annulment of that standard amendment.

7.The Office shall publish in the Union register information that the national decision approving the standard amendment has been annulled. This information shall be accompanied by an updated version of the single document, published in all official Union languages, as communicated by the competent authority of the Member State in accordance with paragraph 6, point (b) of this Article.

8.Decisions approving standard amendments concerning products originating in third countries shall be communicated to the Office by the competent authority of the third country concerned, not later than 1 month following the date on which the relevant decision was made public.

9.The communication of an approved standard amendment to the product specification to the Office shall be considered duly made when it complies with this Article. The Office shall not publish a communication of approval of a standard amendment which has not been duly made in accordance with this Article. The Office shall inform the competent authority and the applicant, where applicable, that the communication of the standard amendment is not duly made within 3 months. Where no response has been received within 2 months from the date of receipt of the letter of the Office, the incorrectly made communication shall be deemed as not filed.

Article 24Communication of temporary amendments#

1.The communication of an approved temporary amendment to the product specification shall contain:

(a)the reference to the protected name to which it relates;

(b)the name of the Member State or third country communicating the temporary amendment to the Office;

(c)a description of the approved temporary amendment together with the reasons supporting it;

(d)decision of the authorities formally recognising a natural disaster or adverse weather conditions, or a man-made disaster, such as a war, a threat of war or a terrorist attack, or, when applicable, the imposition of obligatory sanitary and phytosanitary measures;

(e)the decision approving the temporary amendment or the electronic publication reference.

2.Where the communication is made by the competent authority of a Member State, it shall include a declaration referred to in Article 22(1), point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

3.In the case of geographical indications originating in third countries, the communication shall include proof that the amendment is applicable in the third country. It shall include the national decision approving the temporary amendment as made public instead of the electronic reference to the publication reference thereto.

4.A communication of an approved temporary amendment shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office and submitted to the Office using the digital system.

5.The contact details of the competent authorities of the Member State or third country, shall be communicated separately. The contact details of the competent authorities shall not be published as part of the communication. Their names, however, shall be published.

6.The communication of an approved temporary amendment to the Office shall be considered duly made when it complies with this Article. The Office shall not publish a communication of approval of a temporary amendment which has not been duly made in accordance with this Article. The Office shall inform the competent authority and the applicant, where applicable, that the communication of the temporary amendment is not duly made within 3 months. Where no response has been received within 2 months from the date of receipt of the letter of the Office, the incorrectly made communication shall be deemed as not filed.

7.The competent authority that communicated the content to the Office, shall remain responsible for its content.

8.This Article does not apply to procedures referred to in Article 21, point (b) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Section 5 · Cancellation procedure

Article 25Cancellation#

1.A request to cancel the protection of a geographical indication as referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall contain:

(a)the registered name proposed for cancellation;

(b)the name of the Member State or third country from which the geographical indication concerned by the cancellation originates;

(c)the name of a Member State or third country, or, for the purposes of paragraphs 10 and 11 of this Article, the name of the natural or legal person submitting the request for cancellation;

(d)for requests from third countries, the name and address of the authorities or, if available, bodies or natural persons verifying compliance with the provision of the product specification;

(e)the name of the natural or legal person requesting the cancellation at the national phase of the procedure, if any;

(f)a description of the legitimate interest of the natural or legal person requesting to cancel the registration;

(g)an indication of the grounds for cancellation referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(h)the explanations and reasons for cancellation;

(i)for a request for cancellation submitted by a Member State, the declaration referred to in Article 22(1), point (c) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(j)proof of payment of fees, if applicable.

10.Any natural or legal person having legitimate interest, established or resident in a Member State that obtained a derogation pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 may submit a request for cancellation directly with the Office.

11.Any natural or legal person having legitimate interest, established or resident in a third country, may submit a request for cancellation with the Office, directly or through the competent authority of the third country.

12.Without prejudice to paragraph 9, Article 4, 6, Articles 14-17 and Articles 27-28 of this Regulation shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cancellation procedure.

2.When the request for cancellation is submitted in accordance with Article 32(3) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the information in paragraph 1, point (g) shall not apply.

3.The geographical indication shall be regarded as not having produced the effects referred to in Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 from the outset, to the extent that the geographical indication has been cancelled on the grounds set out in Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

4.The geographical indication shall be regarded as not having produced the effects referred to in Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, to the extent that the geographical indication has been cancelled on the grounds set out in Article 32(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411. This is also applicable to cancellations initiated under Article 32(3) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

5.The contact details of the natural or legal person or of the authorities or bodies of the Member State or third country referred to in paragraph 1, point (c), (d) and (e), shall be communicated separately, through the digital system. The contact details of those natural or legal persons, authorities or bodies shall not be published as part of the request for cancellation. Their names, however, shall be published.

6.A request to cancel the protection of a geographical indication as referred to in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office and submitted to the Office using the digital system.

7.The competent authority of a Member State, including the Member State from where the product originates, may start the national phase of the cancellation procedure on their own initiative. In that case, the information referred to in paragraph 1, points (e) and (f), may be omitted. The Member State shall complete the steps of the national phase pursuant to Article 32(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 before submitting the cancellation request to the Office, unless the Member State has obtained a derogation pursuant to Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

8.Any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest, established or resident in a Member State, may submit a request for cancellation with the Member State in which it is established or resident, allowing that Member State to examine this request and to decide whether to lodge it with the Office.

9.Where the cancellation request is based on a ground referred to in Article 32(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and the ground indicated applies exclusively outside the territorial competence of the Member State where the requester is established or resident or where the geographical indication for which the cancellation is requested originates from another Member State than the Member State where the requester is established or resident or from a third country, the competent authority of the Member State where the requester is established or resident, shall only check if the cancellation request is complete and if it has been submitted in accordance with paragraphs 1, 2, 5 and 6 of this article. In such situations, no national opposition shall be conducted. After the formality check referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph, if the cancellation request is admissible, the competent authority shall lodge it with the Office for examination.

Article 26Cancellation initiated by the Commission or the Office#

1.In the case of cancellations on the Commission’s own initiative, the procedure shall start directly at the Union phase. The Commission shall send the cancellation request to the Office and the Office shall publish it for opposition in accordance with Article 23(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411. The cancellation request shall contain the elements referred to in Article 25(1), mutatis mutandis.

2.In the case of cancellations on the Office’s own initiative, the procedure shall start directly at the Union phase. The Office shall publish for opposition, in accordance with Article 23(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, its own proposal of cancellation, which shall contain the elements referred to in Article 25(1), mutatis mutandis.

3.The proposal or request for cancellation published for opposition shall indicate the grounds for cancellation as referred to in Article 32(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

Section 6 · Decisions

Article 27Publication of decisions#

1.The Office, after informing the Commission, shall arrange for the reference to a decision to be published in the Official Journal of the European Union as soon as possible after the decision referred to in Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 is published in the Union register.

2.The reference shall include the number of the decision, the registered, amended or cancelled name (or names) of the product, the type of product, the country of origin and the registration, amendment or cancellation date.

Article 28Decision of the Commission on the application#

1.The request by the competent authority of a Member State or the Office to the Commission to take over the power to decide in a procedure, as referred to in Article 30 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, shall be submitted to the Commission electronically to a dedicated functional mailbox, addressed to the head of unit in charge of craft and industrial geographical indications in the internal market, using the form made available online by the Office, and it shall indicate the ground on which the request is based and provide reasons for the request.

2.The Commission shall inform the Office through the digital system and through email the competent authority of the Member State making the request, within two months after the receipt of the request referred to in paragraph 1 on its decision as to whether it will take over the power to decide in a procedure referred to in Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411. The Commission communication shall indicate the grounds and provide a justification.

3.When the Commission intends to take over the power to decide in a procedure as referred to in Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 on its own initiative, it shall inform the Office through the digital system and through email the competent authority of the Member State where the product originates. The Commission communication shall indicate the grounds and provide a justification.

4.Information that the Commission has taken over the procedure, the ground invoked, and the justification shall be published in the Union register by the Office within 2 weeks after the Commission has informed the Office about the takeover, in all the official languages of the Union.

5.The procedure before the Office shall be suspended as from the date of submission of the request to the Commission until the Commission informs the Office and the requesting competent authority of the Member State whether it will take over the power to decide. In case the Commission decides not to take over the procedure, the Office shall without delay resume the procedure.

6.Where the Commission takes over the procedure from the Office as referred to in Article 30 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the Office shall provide the Commission with a draft decision referred to in Article 30(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 in electronic form.

7.The Commission shall endeavour to adopt the implementing act regarding the final decision in a given procedure pursuant to Article 30(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 within nine months after the submission of the request referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article or after it has informed the Office of acting on its own initiative. The implementing act shall contain information that the Commission has taken over the case, the grounds and justification.

Section 7 · Use of union symbols

Article 29The use of the Union symbol, indication and abbreviation#

1.When used, the Union symbol, the indication ‘PROTECTED GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION’ within the symbol as well as the abbreviation ‘PGI’ referred to in Article 48 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and established by Article 34 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/26^note shall be reproduced as laid down in Annex I to this Regulation to indicate a protected geographical indication for a craft and industrial product. This Union symbol, indication and abbreviation may be used in any of the official languages of the Union.

2.The Union symbol, indication and abbreviation referring to the protected geographical indication may only be used in connection with products covered under the rules of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

3.The Union symbol, indication or abbreviation may appear on the labelling of a product only after the publication of the decision registering that geographical indication. If they appear on the labelling of a product, they shall be accompanied by the registered name.

4.The Union symbol, indication and abbreviation may be used in media or in advertising materials for the purpose of the divulgation of the protection of the geographical indication or of advertisement of the registered names.

Section 8 · Fees

Article 30Fees#

1.The Office shall establish means of payment pursuant to Article 157(4), point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001, for the fees.

2.All payments referred to in Annex II of this Regulation, shall be made in euros within ten calendar days after filing the application for registration, the request for Union amendment, the request for cancellation or the notice of appeal.

3.Every payment shall indicate the corresponding geographical indication, and the name of the person making the payment and shall contain the necessary information to enable the Office to establish immediately the purpose of the payment.

4.If the purpose of the payment referred to in paragraph 3 cannot immediately be established, the Office shall require the person making the payment to notify it by electronic means of communication within a given reasonable period indicated in the notification. If the person does not comply with this notification in the prescribed period, the payment shall be considered not to have been made. Any amount which has been paid shall be refunded.

5.The appeal fee shall be reimbursed by order of the Board of Appeal in any of the following events:

(a)where the Geographical Indications Division revokes the contested decision pursuant to Article 103, of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001;

(b)where the appeal is deemed not to have been filed in accordance with Article 5(3), second sentence, of Delegated Regulation C(2025) 9101;

(c)where the Board of Appeal considers such reimbursement equitable by reason of a substantial procedural violation.

6.Upon request by the Commission, the Office shall assess the possibility of adopting a fee rebate mechanism for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (‘MSMEs’) in cooperation with the Commission.

7.The fees referred to in Annex II to this Regulation shall apply.

Section 9 · Union register

Article 31Union register#

1.The Union register referred to in Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be established as a digital solution allowing the technical storage of, and public access to, all entries concerning geographical indications, including applications for registration, for Union amendment and for cancellation, rejections, publications for opposition, registrations, approvals of Union amendments, publications of standard and temporary amendments, and cancellations. The Union register shall be made available in all official languages of the Union.

2.In addition to the data referred to in Article 37 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and specific references in this Regulation and Delegated Regulation C(2025) 9101, the following data shall be recorded in the Union register:

(a)the registered name (or names) of the product, including their transcriptions or transliterations in Latin characters, where applicable; multiple names, transcriptions and transliterations shall be recorded as alternative names, separated by a space, a forward slash and a second space;

(b)the date of submission of the application to the Office;

(c)the date of publication in the Union register;

(d)the date of registration;

(e)the decision registering the geographical indication;

(f)the electronic reference to the Official Journal of the European Union pursuant to Article 29(6) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(g)the file number;

(h)the single document, including the electronic reference to the publication of the product specification;

(i)if an electronic reference to the publication of the product specification is not available, the product specification;

(j)the opinions by the Advisory Board delivered with regard to individual applications, if applicable;

(k)an indication of the control authority in the case of geographical indications originating in a third country.

3.Where the Office approves a Union amendment to a product specification or receives a communication of an approved, or annulled, standard amendment to the product specification that necessitates a change to the information recorded in the Union register, it shall update the data listed in paragraphs 2 as appropriate, with effect from the date on which the amendment is applicable in the Union. Electronic references to the publication of communications of standard amendments and temporary amendments shall be recorded by the Office. In the case of direct registrations, the amendment with effect from the date of the Office’s decision on the standard amendment and the temporary amendment shall be recorded in the Union register.

4.Where the registration of a geographical indication has been cancelled, the Union register shall indicate the names as cancelled in accordance with Article 25(3) and (4) of this Regulation. The Union register shall maintain a record of the cancellation, including the electronic reference to the decision of cancellation.

5.Where the Office receives an application for registration, or a request for approval of a Union amendment or a request for cancellation, under Article 22(7) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, the name, the file number, the type of the product, the country of origin, the application type, the date of application and the status of the received application or request, shall be recorded in the Union register. The date of publication and the electronic reference to that publication shall also be recorded once the application is published in the Union register. The Union register shall keep a record of the decision to reject an application.

6.The data referred to in paragraphs 2 to 5 shall remain in the Union register.

7.Member States shall be responsible for keeping the electronic reference to the product specification active and properly functioning as long as the geographical indication remains protected. The electronic reference shall lead directly to the last updated version of the individual product specification.

8.The processing of the data concerning the entries set out in paragraph 2 of this Article and in Article 37(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, including any personal data, shall take place for the purposes of:

(a)administering the applications and/or registrations as provided for in this Regulation and acts adopted pursuant to it;

(b)maintaining a public register for inspection by, and the information of, public authorities and economic operators, to enable them to exercise the rights conferred on them by this Regulation and to be informed about the existence of prior geographical indications; and

(c)producing reports and statistics enabling the Office to optimise its operations and improve the functioning of the system for the protection of geographical indications.

9.All the data, including personal data, concerning the entries referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article and in Article 37(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, is of public interest and may be accessed by any third party. The entries in the Union register shall be kept for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which the personal data are processed.

Article 32Extract from the Union register#

1.The extract from the Union register shall include the data referred to in Article 31(2), points (a) to (g) of this Regulation and in Article 37(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

2.The form and online presentation of the extract from the Union register referred to in on Article 38(1) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be drawn up in accordance with the form made available online by the Office.

Section 10 · Mutual assistance and cooperation in control and enforcement

Article 33General rules#

1.The competent authorities referred to in Section 10 of this Regulation, refer to the competent authorities of the Member States designated pursuant Article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

2.The competent authorities of the Member States shall provide each other with mutual assistance in accordance with this Section, in order to ensure the correct application of the rules of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 in cases which have relevance in more than one Member State.

3.The competent authorities of the Member States shall, upon request, communicate to each other relevant information about the controls performed pursuant to Title IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

4.The requests for mutual assistance as referred to in Article 62 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be submitted by and to the competent authorities of the Member States.

5.The information to be exchanged between the competent authorities of the Member States with the intention to support control and enforcement activities may include:

(a)the outcome of controls performed under Article 51(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and under Article 54(2) of that Regulation;

(b)self-declarations as referred to in Article 51 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(c)certificate of authorisation to use as referred to in Article 52(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, and as referred to in Annex III of this Regulation;

(d)measures taken to remedy non-compliance as referred to in Article 52(4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411;

(e)measures as referred to in Article 54(2) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411.

6.All official communication between the competent authorities of the Member States shall be done in writing, through electronic means. The Commission may make available a computerised information management system, for the integrated operation of the mechanisms through which data, information and documents concerning official controls and other official activities are automatically exchanged. The information management system may be interconnected with other relevant Commission databases used by enforcement authorities in the Union for the safety and compliance of products.

7.Assistance shall include, where appropriate, and subject to the agreement of the competent authorities concerned, participation by the competent authorities of a Member State to on-the-spot official controls that the competent authorities of another Member State perform.

8.This Section shall be without prejudice to national law:

(a)applicable to the release of documents and information that are the object of, or related to, judicial investigations and court proceedings, including criminal investigations; and

(b)protecting natural or legal persons’ commercial interests.

9.Member States shall take measures to facilitate the transmission, from law enforcement authorities, public prosecutors and judicial authorities to the competent ones, of information on possible non-compliance with the rules referred to in Title IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 which is relevant for the application of this Section and which may constitute a risk to human health, or to the environment.

Article 34Assistance on request#

1.Where the competent authorities of a Member State consider that, for the performance of official controls or for the effective follow-up to such controls in their territory, they require data or information from the competent authorities of another Member State, they shall issue a reasoned request for mutual assistance to the competent authorities of that Member State. The latter competent authorities shall:

(a)acknowledge receipt of the request without delay;

(b)where the requesting competent authority so specifies, indicate within 10 working days after the date of receipt of the request, the estimated time necessary to provide an informed response to the request; and

(c)perform official controls or investigations necessary to provide the requesting competent authorities without delay with all necessary information and documents to enable them to take informed decisions and verify compliance with Union rules within their jurisdiction.

2.By agreement between the requesting competent authorities and the requested competent authorities, staff designated by the former may be present during the official controls and investigations referred to in paragraph 1, point (c), performed by the requested competent authorities.

3.In such cases the staff of the requesting competent authorities shall:

(a)at all times be able to produce written authority stating their identity and their official capacity;

(b)be granted access by the operator to the same premises and documents as the staff of the requested competent authorities, through their intermediary, and for the sole purpose of the administrative inquiry being carried out; and

(c)not, on their own initiative, exercise the powers of inquiry conferred on officials of the requested competent authorities.

Article 35Assistance without request in the event of non-compliance#

1.When the competent authorities of a Member State become aware of a case of non-compliance, and if such non-compliance may have implications for another Member State, they shall notify such information to the competent authorities of that other Member State without being requested to do so and without undue delay.

2.The competent authorities notified in accordance with paragraph 1 shall:

(a)acknowledge receipt of the notification without undue delay;

(b)where the notifying competent authority so specifies, indicate within 10 working days after the date of receipt of the notification:

(i)what investigations they intend to carry out; or

(ii)the reasons why they consider that no investigations are necessary; and

(c)where investigations referred to in point (b) are considered necessary, investigate the matter and inform the notifying competent authorities without delay of the results and, where appropriate, of any measures taken.

3.The information referred to in paragraph 1 and 2 shall be notified to the Commission to a dedicated functional mailbox managed by the Directorate responsible for the craft and industrial geographical indications scheme.

Article 36Non-compliance creating a risk or a repeated or potentially serious infringement#

1.Where, during official controls performed on goods originating in another Member State, the competent authorities establish that such goods do not comply with the rules of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 in such a way as to create a risk to human health or to the environment, or to constitute a potentially serious infringement of those rules, they shall, without delay, notify the competent authorities of the relevant Member State and of any other concerned Member State in order to enable those competent authorities to undertake appropriate investigations.

2.The notified competent authorities shall without delay:

(a)acknowledge receipt of the notification;

(b)where the notifying competent authority so specifies, indicate what investigations they intend to carry out; and

(c)investigate the matter, take all necessary measures that exist in the Member State concerned to enforce Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 and inform the notifying competent authorities of the nature of the investigations and official controls performed, of the decisions taken and of the reasons for such decisions.

3.If the notifying competent authorities have reason to believe that the investigations performed or the measures taken by the notified competent authorities do not adequately address the non-compliance established, they shall request, when it is reasonable, the notified competent authorities to complement the official controls performed or the measures taken. In such cases, both the notifying competent authorities and the notified competent authorities shall seek an agreed approach with the aim of appropriately addressing the non-compliance, including through joint official controls and investigations performed in accordance with Article 34(2) and (3).

4.When official controls performed on goods originating in another Member State show repeated cases of non-compliance as referred to in paragraph 1, the competent authorities of the Member State of destination shall inform the competent authorities of the other Member States without delay.

Article 37Assistance on the basis of information provided by third countries#

1.When competent authorities receive information from a third country indicating non-compliance in the Union with Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 or a risk to humans or the environment, they shall, without delay:

(a)notify such information to the competent authorities of other concerned Member States; and

(b)communicate such information to the Commission where it is or may be relevant at Union level.

2.Information obtained through official controls and investigations performed in accordance with this Regulation may be communicated to the third country referred to in paragraph 1, provided that:

(a)the competent authorities which have provided the information consent to such communication;

(b)the third country has undertaken to provide the assistance necessary to gather evidence of practices that are or appear to be non-compliant with Union rules or that pose a risk to humans or the environment; and

(c)relevant Union and national rules applicable to the communication of personal data to third countries are complied with.

Section 11 · Communication and publication

Article 38General rules on communications#

1.All notifications, communications, documents and information required for the implementation of Article 20(4) and Chapter 3, Section 1 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, Delegated Regulation C(2025) 9101 and this Regulation, shall be communicated to and by the Office through the digital system, unless otherwise expressly provided in these regulations. The execution of these notifications, communications, documents and information by the Office through the digital system shall occur by providing electronic access to them. The Office shall send an email alert to the addressees about the new notification, communication, document and information made available in the digital system by the Office, communicating to them also the data to access them.

2.Any notifications, communications, documents or information not covered by paragraph 1, shall be communicated to and by the Office via electronic mail, using the dedicated functional mailbox.

3.For official technical communications concerning geographical indications of craft and industrial products, each Member State shall communicate to the Office and to the Commission by 2 December 2025, to their respective dedicated functional mailboxes, one contact point comprising a department and address, a dedicated functional mailbox, and a departmental telephone number. The Member States shall keep the list of contact points up to date. This data shall only identify official functions, offices and departments. None of the data shall identify any natural persons, contact numbers or other data items.

4.Member States which have received a derogation from the national phase, in accordance with Article 19 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, shall, in addition to the information referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, communicate to the Office and to the Commission, to their respective dedicated functional mailboxes, information regarding the single point of contact referred to in Article 19(5) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 by 2 December 2025. It shall comprise a department and address, a functional electronic mailbox address, and a departmental telephone number. Member States shall keep the information on these single points of contact up to date. This data shall only identify official functions, offices and departments. None of the data shall identify any natural persons, contact numbers or other data items.

5.The Office and the Commission may keep, store, share, make public and periodically circulate the complete list of such contact points, including sharing with its own services, other Union institutions and bodies, and all contact points on the list. The Office may require this data to be submitted through its digital system.

Article 39Submission and receipt of communications#

1.Any communications and submissions referred to in Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, Delegated Regulation C(2025) 9101 and this Regulation shall be deemed to have been made on the date on which they are received by the Office through its digital system or, where relevant, by the Commission to its dedicated functional mailbox.

2.Where a communication that is received is incomplete or illegible or where the Office has reasonable doubts as to the accuracy of the transmission, the Office shall inform the sender accordingly and shall invite the sender, within a period to be specified by the Office, to retransmit it through the digital system. Where that request is complied with within the period specified, the date of receipt of the initial transmission shall be deemed to be the date of filing or submission.

3.The Office shall confirm receipt of all notifications, communications, documents and information received through the digital system to the parties concerned through that digital system.

4.The Office shall assign a file number to each new application for registration, each amendment, or each submission of opposition, notice of comments, cancellation or appeal.

5.The confirmation of receipt shall include at least the following elements:

(a)the file number;

(b)the name concerned;

(c)the type of product;

(d)the date of receipt.

Article 40Exemption from the translation obligation#

1.The competent authority or the single point of contact of a Member State may request the Office, through a dedicated functional mailbox, not to provide the translations referred to in Article 16(5) and Article 17(4). Such request shall be submitted before 1 May 2026. In the request, the Member State shall indicate clearly by reference to the relevant articles the translations it does not wish to receive.

2.The request for exemption referred to in paragraph 1 may be wholly or partially withdrawn, in the same way as described in that paragraph.

Article 41Information to be made public#

The information that the Office is to make public, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, with Delegated Regulation C(2025) 9101 and with this Regulation, shall be made public through the IT system under Article 67 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, unless otherwise expressly provided.

Section 12 · Entry into force and application

Article 42 #

This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Annex I · Reproduction of the union symbols and indications for pgi

1. Union symbols in colour

When used in colours, direct colours (Pantone) or four-colour process may be used. The reference colours are indicated below.

Union symbols in pantone:

Union symbols in four-colour process:

Contrast with background colours

If a symbol is used in colour on a coloured background, which makes it difficult to see, a delimiting outer circle around the symbol should be used to improve contrast with the background:

2. Union symbols in black and white

Use of the symbols in black and white is allowed only when black and white are the only ink colours used on the package.

When used in black and white Union symbols are reproduced as follows:

Union symbols in black and white in negative

If the background of the packaging or labelling is dark, the symbols may be used in negative format as follows:

3. Typography

Times Roman capitals must be used for the text.

4. Reduction

The minimum size of the Union symbols is 15 mm in diameter, however, it may be reduced to 10 mm in case of small packages or products.

5. Protected Geographical Indication and its abbreviation in EU languages

EU Language | Term | Abbreviation |

BG | защитено географско указание | ЗГУ |

ES | indicación geográfica protegida | IGP |

CS | chráněné zeměpisné označení | CHZO |

DA | beskyttet geografisk betegnelse | BGB |

DE | geschützte geografische Angabe | g.g.A. |

ET | kaitstud geograafiline tähis | KGT |

EL | προστατευόμενη γεωγραφική ένδειξη | ΠΓΕ |

EN | protected geographical indication | PGI |

FR | indication géographique protégée | IGP |

GA | tásc geografach faoi chosaint | TGFC |

HR | zaštićena oznaka zemljopisnog podrijetla | ZOZP |

IT | indicazione geografica protetta | IGP |

LV | aizsargāta ģeogrāfiskās izcelsmes norāde | AĢIN |

LT | saugoma geografinė nuoroda | SGN |

HU | oltalom alatt álló földrajzi jelzés | OFJ |

MT | indikazzjoni ġeografika protetta | IĠP |

NL | beschermde geografische aanduiding | BGA |

PL | chronione oznaczenie geograficzne | CHOG |

PT | indicação geográfica protegida | IGP |

RO | indicație geografică protejată | IGP |

SK | chránené zemepisné označenie | CHZO |

SL | zaščitena geografska označba | ZGO |

FI | suojattu maantieteellinen merkintä | SMM |

SV | skyddad geografisk beteckning | SGB |

Annex II · Fees

1. Amounts of fees as referred to in Article 65(3) and (4) of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411

(1)Fee for direct registration processing (Article 65(3)(a)):EUR 1500

(2)Fee for processing of application for a geographical indication concerning products originating in a third country (Article 65(3)(b)):EUR 1500

(4)Except for situations referred to in Article 32(3) or Article 32(5) of the Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, fee for cancellation request (Article 65(4)):EUR 630

(5)Appeal fee (Article 65(3(c)):EUR 720

(3.Fee for processing an application for amendment of product specification (Article 65(4)):EUR 750

The fees to be paid to the Office under the Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 shall be as follows (in EUR):

III · The certificate of authorisation

Certificate of authorisation or listing of producers compliant with a product specification of a geographical indication for craft and industrial products, pursuant to Articles 32 and 36 of this Regulation:

This document attests that the producer or processor is certified to designate a product as Geographical Indication (GI) protected in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2023/2411
1. Protected Geographical Indication (GI)[GI as entered in the Union register]
2. The category of craft and industrial product
3. Producer to which the certificate applies[business name, contact details and producer number]
4. Product certification body or issuing authority[business name and contact details]
5. Reference[optional for product certification body or issuing authority to provide]
6. Business of the producer or processor to which the certification applies[‘production’, ‘processing’, (packaging)’, or ‘other (specify)’ – include all that apply]
7. Date of issue of certificate or date on which the listing was drawn up (the listing may be the relevant extract)[dd.mm.yyyy]
8. Signature, seal or mark of the product certification body or issuing authority