NON-AGRICULTURAL GIs: THE REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

During 2025, the DGPI-UIBM completed the process of aligning the national legal system with Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, which establishes a harmonised system for the protection of Geographical Indications (GIs) for craft and industrial products. The Regulation, which entered into force on 16 November 2023, became fully applicable on 1 December 2025, the date from which producer associations may submit registration applications exclusively through the UIBM's online portal, designated as the national access point.

At the domestic level, the 2024 European Delegation Act (Law of 13 June 2025, No. 91), published in the Official Gazette No. 145 of 25 June 2025, granted the Government a mandate to align national legislation with the new European framework. Pursuant to this delegation, on 20 November 2025 the Council of Ministers approved in preliminary form the draft implementing legislative decree, which was subsequently transmitted to Parliament for the required parliamentary opinion.

The draft decree, in accordance with Art. 25 of Law No. 91/2025, designates the DGPI-UIBM as the competent authority for the national phase of the registration procedure for GI applications, covering the examination of applications, the management of national oppositions and coordination with the EUIPO, as the European office responsible for the final registration of craft and industrial GIs. The decree also introduces a specific penalty regime designed to combat unlawful uses, evocations and imitations, thereby strengthening the protection of consumers and businesses operating in compliance with the rules.

In parallel, during the year the European secondary legislation framework was further completed, with the adoption of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1955, concerning appeal procedures, and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1956, which covers several areas of implementation, including the application for registration, the use of the Union symbol and the use of the indication "protected geographical indication" and its abbreviation "PGI".

The activities of the DGPI-UIBM focused on managing the transition towards the full implementation of the new system, in close coordination with the European Commission (DG GROW) and the EUIPO, with regard to the definition of procedural workflows, document templates and the functionalities of the filing portal. This work ensured an orderly and effective launch of the new protection regime, designed to further enhance the excellence of Italian craft and industrial production.