Distinctive labels associated with goods outside of the food industry.
In a joint effort between the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Germany is working on a proposed regulation to implement an EU-wide reform of geographic indications (GIs) in national law. The reform, which is expected to affect handicraft and industrial products, in addition to food products, aims to improve the legal protection of GIs.
GIs refer to names of products whose characteristics can be traced back to a specific region. An example of a food product with a GI is "Black Forest Ham." The proposed regulation intends to ensure that products labeled with GIs contain the specified origin.
Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) believes that products like "Glashütte watches" could be protected in the same way as "Thuringian Rostbratwurst." Hubig states that protecting GIs promotes regional craftsmanship and traditional industry.
Agriculture Minister Alois Rainer (CSU) supports the need for manufacturers to better protect unique selling points, such as GIs. Rainer's statement suggests that the proposed regulation aims to improve the protection of unique selling points for manufacturers.
The simplifications in registration are a part of the national implementation of the EU-wide reform. However, the proposed regulation does not specify which products will be eligible for simplified registration.
The European Union is actively working on the future of GIs, with over 200 stakeholders discussing GI developments in Brussels in late June 2025. This suggests ongoing efforts within the EU to enhance GI protection frameworks, which member states like Germany are likely to implement or align with.
However, as of mid-2025, there is no publicly available or specific future German legislation announced yet that targets the protection of GIs for handicraft and industrial products exclusively. Recent EU regulations and initiatives continue to register and protect GIs, traditionally focused on agricultural and food products, but the scope has been expanding.
For those seeking more precise updates, following German government or EU intellectual property agency announcements would be advisable.
The proposed regulation in Germany, aimed at improving the legal protection of Geographic Indications (GIs), is not limited to food products but also intends to safeguard handicraft and industrial products, such as "Glashütte watches". To foster regional craftsmanship and traditional industry, Community policy and employment policy may need to align with this reform, especially considering the potential business opportunities in the industry and finance sectors.
