European Brand Protection for Unique Handicrafts and Industrial Products
Hungarian Handicraft and Industrial Products to be Eligible for EU Geographical Indication Protection
As of December 1, 2025, unique Hungarian handicraft and industrial products will be eligible for EU geographical indication protection. This announcement comes after the regulation enacted on November 16, 2023, which will extend protection for products like Halas lace, crystal products from Ajka, and Herend porcelain throughout Europe.
This regulation signifies a significant step forward in protecting the names of regional products rooted in the authenticity and traditional skills of their respective areas, reported Hungarian Nation.
The new regulation, which entered into force on November 16th, extends protection to handicraft and industrial products that are closely tied to specific geographical areas within the EU. This is in addition to the current protection for agricultural products.
Examples of products that will receive this EU geographical indication protection include Herend porcelain, Halas lace, Ajka crystal, Murano glass, Carrara marble, and Solingen steel.
While several Hungarian agricultural products are already protected as geographical indications in the European Union, non-agricultural products have not been eligible for uniform protection in the EU until now. This lack of uniform protection has meant that the protection of handicraft and industrial geographical indications varied across the EU, with producers having to rely on national rules in each Member State.
The regulation will recognize this variance and introduce a harmonized framework for the protection of the names of EU handicraft and industrial products. It also provides the possibility of uniform protection in the EU for names of products from non-EU countries, offering these revered products greater market protection.
After December 1, 2025, it will be possible to apply for protection of handicraft and industrial names through a single application for a geographical indication covering all Member States. Producers will apply to the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office and then be examined by the EU Intellectual Property Office.
“We believe that this regulation will benefit producers by allowing them to use the official symbol of the protected geographical indication on their products. This logo will enable customers to make informed choices when purchasing these products by identifying their specific characteristics linked to their geographical origin,” said Szabolcs Farkas, President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
This development is expected to elevate Hungarian handicraft and industrial products on a global scale and provide greater protection for the unique heritage of these revered items.
