Europe’s traditional crafts, from Limoges porcelain to Donegal tweed, now enjoy EU-wide protected status, thanks to a new law extending geographical indication rights beyond food to safeguard artisanal heritage and boost regional economies.
Traditional crafts, from French Limoges porcelain to Irish Donegal tweed, became entitled to EU protected status as of Monday, placing them on par with agricultural products such as Champagne and Parma ham.
Europe’s glassblowers, potters, jewellers, and other artisans will now be able to register their product names under the bloc’s new geographical indication (GI) scheme for craft and industrial goods, extending the well-established system previously used for food and drink.
Under a law adopted in 2023 and taking effect on December 1, the system offers protection for iconic goods such as Bohemian glass, Limoges porcelain, Solingen knives, and Donegal tweed, whose reputation and quality stem from their place of origin, the European Commission said.
Geographical indications are intellectual property rights that link a product’s qualities, reputation, or features to its place of origin, according to the Commission.
Craftspeople and the European Parliament have long advocated for the extension of GI labels to non-food products in a bid to fight counterfeiting and support the sectors concerned.
The law builds on more than 30 years of experience with agricultural GIs, which safeguard over 3,600 names, generate around 75 billion euros (87 billion dollars) annually, and account for about 15 percent of EU food and drink exports, according to Brussels.
The registration process for regional crafts will take place in two stages, first at national level, then at EU level.
We are not only safeguarding the unique skills and traditions of our artisans, but also creating new opportunities for growth, jobs, and many SMEs, said the bloc’s industry chief Stéphane Séjourné.
AFP
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