New Rules for Famous Food Names Like Champagne and Parma Ham

Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1753

Purpose
The European Union must update its rules on geographical indications (GIs) so that they match the new Common Regulations adopted by the Lisbon Union on 14 July 2025. The changes will take effect on 1 July 2026. The amendment will let the EU modify the name, product type, geographic area, and quality description of GIs that are registered in the International Register. It will also delete old notification obligations and align definitions with the latest EU GI regulations (2024/1143 and 2023/2411).

Key points

Main amendments to Regulation (EU) 2019/1753

1. Definitions – Expand the term “geographical indications” to include the new categories covered by 2024/1143 (wine, spirit drinks, agricultural products) and 2023/2411 (craft and industrial products).
2. New Article 2a – Provides procedures for the Commission or the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) to request changes to the name, product type, or geographic area of a GI in the International Register.
3. Article 7a – Extends the same procedures to GIs registered by third‑country contracting parties.
4. Article 8 – Clarifies that implementing acts will not affect other Union rules on market access, sanitary standards, or food labelling.
5. Article 12a – Applies the rules of 2023/2411 to craft and industrial GIs.
6. Article 15 – Updates the committees that advise on wine, spirit drinks, agricultural products, and craft/industrial GIs.
7. Deletion of old notification obligations – Removes the requirement for Member States that were part of the Lisbon Union before the EU’s accession to the Geneva Act to forward notifications to the Commission.

Outcome
The amendment ensures that the EU’s legal framework for GIs remains consistent with the Lisbon Union’s updated Common Regulations, simplifies the process for modifying GIs, and removes unnecessary administrative steps. No new costs are expected, and the regulation will be fully applicable across the EU from 1 July 2026.