1.   This Title covers:

For the purposes of this Title, the term ‘agricultural products’ covers agricultural products, including foodstuffs and fishery and aquaculture products, listed under Chapters 1 to 23 of the Combined Nomenclature set out in Part two of Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87, and the agricultural products under the Combined Nomenclature headings set out in Annex I to this Regulation, except wine and spirit drinks.

2.   The registration and the protection of geographical indications are without prejudice to the obligation of producers to comply with other Union rules, in particular those relating to the placing of products on the market, sanitary and phytosanitary rules, the common organisation of the markets, the competition rules and the provision of food information to consumers.

3.   Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council (27) shall not apply to the system of geographical indications laid down in this Regulation.

1.   Products designated by geographical indications shall be classified in accordance with the Combined Nomenclature at two, four, six or, where a Member State so decides, eight-digit level. Where a geographical indication covers products of more than one category, each entry shall be specified. Product classification shall only be used for registration, statistical and record keeping purposes, in particular for customs authorities. That classification shall not be used to determine comparable products for the purposes of protection against direct and indirect commercial use as referred to in Article 26(1), point (a).

2.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down the technical presentation of, and online access to, the classification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A producer group, or a recognised producer group where such a group exists, may agree on sustainable practices to be adhered to in the production of the product designated by a geographical indication or in carrying out other activities subject to one or more obligations provided for in the product specification. Such practices shall aim to apply sustainability standards higher than those laid down by Union or national law in terms of environmental, social or economic sustainability or animal welfare.

2.   For the purpose of paragraph 1, ‘sustainable practice’ means a practice which contributes to one or more social, environmental or economic objectives, such as:

3.   Where the producer group, or the recognised producer group where such a group exists, decides that the sustainable practices referred to in paragraph 1 are mandatory for all producers of the product concerned, those practices shall be included in the product specification in accordance with the registration or amendment procedure.

1.   A producer group, or a recognised producer group where such a group exists, may prepare and regularly update a sustainability report based on verifiable information, comprising a description of existing sustainable practices implemented in the production of the product, a description of how the method of obtaining the product impacts on sustainability, in terms of environmental, social, economic or animal welfare commitments, and information necessary to understand how sustainability affects the development, performance and position of the product.

2.   The Commission shall make the sustainability report public.

1.   Applications for the registration of geographical indications may only be submitted by an applicant producer group. An applicant producer group shall be an association, irrespective of its legal form, composed of producers of the same product the name of which is proposed for registration. Public bodies and other interested parties may assist in the preparation of the application and in the related procedure.

2.   For the purposes of this Title, an authority designated by a Member State may be deemed to be an applicant producer group with respect to geographical indications of a spirit drink, if it is not feasible for the producers concerned to form a group by reason of their number, geographical location or organisational characteristics. In such a case, the application referred to in Article 10(2) shall state those reasons.

3.   For the purposes of this Title, a single producer may be deemed to be an applicant producer group, where it is shown that all of the following conditions are fulfilled:

4.   In the case of a geographical indication that designates a cross-border geographical area, several applicant producer groups from different Member States or third countries may lodge a joint application for the registration of a geographical indication. Such a joint application shall be addressed to all of the Member States concerned.

1.   An application for the registration of a geographical indication concerning a product originating in the Union shall be addressed to the competent authorities of the Member State in which the product originates.

2.   The application referred to in paragraph 1 shall comprise:

3.   The Member State shall examine the application for registration in order to check that it meets the conditions for registration laid down in the respective provisions for wine, spirit drinks or agricultural products, as appropriate.

4.   As part of the examination referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article, the Member State concerned shall conduct a national opposition procedure. The national opposition procedure shall ensure publication of the application for registration with the exception of the documents referred to in Article 12(1), points (b) and (c), and shall provide for a period of at least one month from the date of publication within which any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in the Member State in which the product concerned originates may lodge an opposition to the application for registration with that Member State.

5.   The Member State concerned shall establish the modalities of the opposition procedure. Those modalities may include criteria for the admissibility of an opposition, a period of consultation between the applicant producer group and each opponent, and submission of a report from the applicant producer group on the outcome of the consultations including any changes the applicant producer group has made to the application for registration.

6.   If, after the examination of the application for registration and the assessment of the results of any opposition received and any changes to the application agreed with the applicant producer group, the Member State concerned considers that the requirements of this Regulation are met, it may take a favourable decision and submit an application for registration at Union stage as referred to in Article 13.

7.   The Member State concerned shall ensure that any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest has an opportunity to lodge an appeal. The Member State concerned shall also ensure that a favourable decision and the corresponding product specification are published, and shall provide electronic access to the product specification.

8.   In the case of a joint application as referred to in Article 9(4), the application shall be addressed to all Member States concerned and the related national procedures, including the opposition stage, shall be carried out in all of those Member States.

1.   A Member State may, on a temporary basis, grant transitional protection to a name at national level, with effect from the date on which an application for registration at Union stage is lodged with the Commission.

2.   Such national protection shall cease on the date on which either the implementing act deciding on the application for registration, adopted in accordance with Article 21, enters into force or the application for registration is withdrawn.

3.   Where a name is not registered under this Regulation, the consequences of the transitional national protection shall be the sole responsibility of the Member State concerned.

4.   The measures taken by Member States in accordance with this Article shall produce effects at national level only, and they shall have no effect on the internal market or in international trade.

1.   The documentation accompanying the application for registration shall comprise:

2.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the format and online presentation of the accompanying documentation provided for in paragraph 1, points (a), (b) and (c), of this Article in the application for registration at Union stage as provided in Article 13, and provide for the exclusion or anonymisation of personal data. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   For geographical indications concerning products originating in the Union, the application for registration shall comprise:

2.   For geographical indications concerning products originating outside the Union, the application for registration at Union stage shall comprise:

3.   The joint application for registration referred to in Article 9(4) shall include, in addition to the single document, as relevant, the documents listed in paragraph 1, points (b) to (e), or 2, points (c) (d) and (e), of this Article from all Member States or third countries concerned.

4.   The documents referred to in this Article shall be drafted in one of the official languages of the Union.

5.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on procedures, the form and presentation of applications for registration at Union stage, including applications concerning more than one national territory. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An application for registration of a geographical indication at Union stage shall be submitted to the Commission electronically, through a digital system.

Upon receiving a request from one or more Member States, the Commission shall adapt the digital system to make it suitable to be used in the national part of the procedure for registration of a geographical indication by any Member State that so wishes.

2.   Where the application for registration relates to a geographical area outside the Union, the application shall be submitted to the Commission, either directly by an applicant, namely a producer group or a single producer, or via the authorities of the third country concerned.

A single producer of a third country shall meet the conditions set out in Article 9(3). A producer group of a third country shall be a producer group which works with a product, the name of which is proposed for registration.

3.   A joint application for registration referred to in Article 9(4) shall be submitted by either:

4.   The names for which applications for registration at Union stage have been submitted shall be made public by the Commission through the digital system referred to in paragraph 1.

1.   The Commission shall examine applications for registration submitted in accordance with Article 14(1), (2) and (3). It shall check that the applications contain the required information and that they do not contain manifest errors, taking into account the outcome of the national examination and opposition procedure carried out by the Member State concerned.

2.   The examination shall not exceed a period of six months from the day of the reception of the application. The Commission may request from the applicant any necessary additional information or modification of the application. Where the Commission addresses such requests to the applicant, the examination period shall not exceed a period of five months from the day on which the Commission receives the applicant’s reply.

3.   In the event that the Commission does not conclude the examination referred to in paragraph 2 within the prescribed deadlines, it shall inform the applicant of the reasons for the delay in writing, indicating the estimated time necessary to conclude the examination, which shall not exceed one month.

4.   Where the Commission considers that the conditions laid down in Articles 9, 10, 12, 13, 28, 29, 30, 31, 46 and 47, Article 48(1) and (2) and Article 50 of this Regulation, in Articles 93 and 95 and Article 100(4) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, and in Article 3(4), Article 23 and Article 34(4) of Regulation (EU) 2019/787, as appropriate, are fulfilled, it shall publish in the Official Journal of the European Union the single document and the reference to the publication of the product specification.

1.   Member States shall inform the Commission of any national administrative or judicial proceedings that may prejudice the registration of a geographical indication.

2.   The Commission shall be exempted from the obligation to meet the deadlines to perform the examination referred to in Article 15(2) and to inform the Member State of the reasons for the delay where it receives a communication from that Member State, concerning an application for registration in accordance with Article 10(6), which:

3.   The exemption provided for in paragraph 2 shall have effect until the Commission is informed by the Member State concerned that the original application has been restored or that the Member State withdraws its request for suspension.

4.   If the favourable decision of a Member State referred to in Article 10(6) has been invalidated in full or in part by a final decision taken by a national court, that Member State shall consider appropriate action such as withdrawal or modification of the application for registration at Union stage, as necessary.

1.   Within three months from the date of publication in the Official Journal of the European Union of the single document and the reference to the publication of the product specification in accordance with Article 15(4), the authorities of a Member State or of a third country, or a natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a third country may lodge an opposition with the Commission.

2.   Any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a Member State other than the one from which the application for registration at Union stage was submitted may lodge an opposition with the Member State, in which it is established or resident, within a time limit permitting that Member State to examine that opposition and to decide whether to lodge it with the Commission in accordance with paragraph 1. Member States may specify that time limit in their national law.

3.   An opposition shall state that it opposes the registration of a geographical indication. An opposition that does not contain that statement shall be void.

4.   The Commission shall examine the admissibility of the opposition. If the Commission considers that the opposition is admissible, it shall, within five months from the date of publication referred to in Article 15(4), invite the opponent and the applicant to engage in appropriate consultations for a reasonable period that shall not exceed three months. The Commission shall transmit to the applicant the opposition and all the documents provided by the opponent. At any time during that period, the Commission may, at the request of the applicant, extend the deadline for the consultations once by a maximum of three months.

5.   The opponent and the applicant shall start appropriate consultations without undue delay. They shall provide each other with the relevant information to assess whether the application for registration complies with this Regulation, Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 or Regulation (EU) 2019/787, as appropriate.

6.   Within one month from the end of the consultations referred to in paragraph 4, the applicant shall notify the Commission of the result of the consultations, including all the information exchanged, whether agreement was reached with one or all of the opponents, and of any consequent changes to the application for registration. The opponent may also notify the Commission of its position at the end of the consultations.

7.   Where, following the end of the consultations referred to in paragraph 4 of this Article, the data published in accordance with Article 15(4) have been modified, the Commission shall repeat its examination of the application for registration as modified. Where the application for registration has been modified in a substantial manner, and the Commission considers that the modified application meets the conditions for registration, it shall publish again the single document and the reference to the publication of the product specification in accordance with Article 15(4).

8.   The documents referred to in this Article shall be drafted in one of the official languages of the Union.

9.   The Commission shall finalise its assessment of the application for registration at Union stage, taking into account any request for transitional periods, the outcome of the opposition procedure and any other matters arising subsequently with regard to its examination that may imply a change of the single document.

10.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down detailed procedures and deadlines for the opposition procedure.

11.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the format and presentation of oppositions and provide for the exclusion or anonymisation of personal data. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Within three months from the date of publication of the single document and the reference to the publication of the product specification in accordance with Article 15(4), the authorities of a Member State or of a third country, or a natural or legal person established or resident in a third country may submit to the Commission a notice of comments.

2.   A notice of comments shall point out any error or contain additional information in relation to the application for registration, including possible infringement of Union law. A notice of comments shall not confer any rights on the authorities or persons referred to in paragraph 1 nor trigger an opposition procedure.

3.   Where, following the submission of a notice of comments the data published in accordance with Article 15(4) have been modified in a substantial manner, the Commission shall publish again the single document and the reference to the publication of the product specification in accordance with that paragraph.

4.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down the format and presentation of notices of comments. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An opposition lodged in accordance with Article 17 shall be admissible only if the opponent shows that:

2.   The admissibility of an opposition shall be assessed by the Commission in relation to the territory of the Union.

1.   For products originating in a Member State or a third country the designation of which consists of or contains a name that contravenes Article 26(1), the Commission may, by means of implementing acts, grant a transitional period of up to five years to enable the continued use of that designation, under which they were marketed, provided that an admissible opposition, under Article 10(4) or Article 17, to the application for registration of the geographical indication whose protection is contravened shows that:

2.   The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2) except those where an admissible opposition is lodged in accordance with Article 10(4), which shall be adopted without applying that examination procedure.

3.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, extend the transitional period granted under paragraph 1 up to a total period of 15 years or grant directly a transitional period of up to 15 years provided that it is also shown that:

4.   The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2) except those where an admissible opposition is lodged under Article 10(4), which shall be adopted without applying that examination procedure.

5.   When using a designation referred to in paragraphs 1 and 3, the indication of the country of origin shall clearly and visibly appear on the labelling and, where applicable, on the product description when it is marketed online.

6.   Regarding applications for the registration of geographical indications and Union amendments, in order to overcome temporary difficulties with the long-term objective of ensuring that all operators of a product designated under a geographical indication in the area concerned comply with the related product specification, a Member State may grant a transitional period for compliance, of up to 10 years, with effect from the date on which the application is lodged with the Commission, provided that the operators concerned have legally marketed that product using the name concerned continuously for at least five years preceding the lodging of the application to the authorities of that Member State and have referred to that fact in the national opposition procedure referred to in Article 10(4).

7.   Where the time between the application for registration at Union stage and the registration of the name concerned exceeds five years, the Member State may extend the transitional period by up to five years. The decision to extend the transitional period shall be communicated without delay to the Commission, which shall publish it in the Official Journal of the European Union.

8.   Paragraph 6 shall apply mutatis mutandis to a geographical indication referring to a geographical area situated in a third country, with the exception of the opposition procedure.

1.   Where, on the basis of the information available to the Commission from the examination carried out in accordance with Article 15, the Commission considers that any of the conditions referred to in that Article is not fulfilled, it shall, by means of implementing acts, reject the application for registration. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

2.   In the absence of an admissible opposition, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts and without applying the procedure referred to in Article 88(2), register the geographical indication. The Commission may take into account the notices of comments received in accordance with Article 18.

3.   Where the Commission receives an admissible opposition, it shall, following the procedure referred to in Article 17 and taking into account the results thereof:

4.   The implementing acts registering a geographical indication shall provide for any conditions applicable to the registration and for the republication for information of the single document published in accordance with Article 15(4) and modified following the opposition procedure in the case of modifications other than those referred to in Article 17(7) and Article 18(3).

5.   Commission implementing regulations on registration and Commission implementing decisions on rejection shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L series.

1.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts and without applying the procedure referred to in Article 88(2), establish and maintain a publicly accessible Union register of geographical indications. That register shall have three parts corresponding to geographical indications of wine, of spirit drinks and of agricultural products respectively. Files entered in that register after 13 May 2024 shall be in a machine-readable format as defined in Article 2, point (13), of Directive (EU) 2019/1024 of the European Parliament and of the Council (28).

2.   The EUIPO shall maintain and keep up-to-date the Union register with respect to registrations, amendments and cancellations of geographical indications.

3.   Each geographical indication of wine and of agricultural products shall be identified in the Union register of geographical indications as a ‘protected designation of origin’ or a ‘protected geographical indication’, as the case may be, and each geographical indication of spirit drinks shall be identified as a ‘geographical indication’.

4.   Geographical indications concerning products from third countries that are protected in the Union under an international agreement to which the Union is a contracting party may be entered in the Union register of geographical indications. In such cases, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, register such geographical indications. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

As regards wine and agricultural products, unless specifically identified in the agreements referred to in the first subparagraph as protected designations of origin, the names of such products shall be entered in the Union register of geographical indications as protected geographical indications.

5.   Each geographical indication shall be entered in the Union register of geographical indications in its original script. Where the original script is not in Latin characters, the geographical indication shall be transcribed or transliterated in Latin characters and both versions of the geographical indication shall be entered in the Union register of geographical indications and shall have equal status.

6.   The Commission shall make public and regularly update the list of the international agreements referred to in paragraph 4 as well as the list of geographical indications protected under those agreements.

7.   The Commission shall retain, in digital or paper form, documentation related to the registration of a geographical indication. In the event of cancellation of the registration, the Commission shall retain the documentation for 10 years thereafter.

8.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, specify the content and presentation of the Union register of geographical indications. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Any person shall be able to download, easily and free of charge, an official extract from the Union register of geographical indications that provides proof of registration of the geographical indication, and other relevant data, including the date of application for the registration of the geographical indication or other priority date. The official extract of registration entered in that register after 13 May 2024 shall be in a machine-readable format, as defined in Article 2, point (13), of Directive (EU) 2019/1024. That official extract may be used as an authentic certificate in legal, judicial, administrative or similar proceedings.

2.   Where a producer group has been recognised by the national authorities in accordance with Article 33, that group shall be identified as the representative of the producers of a product designated by a geographical indication in the Union register of geographical indications and in the official extract referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

3.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, specify the format and online presentation of extracts from the Union register of geographical indications and provide for the exclusion or anonymisation of personal data. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A producer group of a product the name of which is a registered geographical indication may apply for the approval of an amendment to the product specification. Where a recognised producer group exists, that group shall be the only one entitled to apply.

2.   Amendments to a product specification shall be classified into two categories:

3.   An amendment shall be considered as a Union amendment if it entails a change of the single document or its equivalent and:

The criteria referred to in points (a), (b) and (c) shall be verified by Member States.

4.   Any other amendment to a product specification of a registered geographical indication, that is not a Union amendment in accordance with paragraph 3, shall be considered as a standard amendment.

5.   A standard amendment shall be considered as a temporary amendment when it concerns a temporary change in the product specification resulting from the imposition of obligatory sanitary and phytosanitary measures by the public authorities or a temporary amendment necessary because of a natural disaster or adverse weather conditions, or significant market disturbances due to exceptional circumstances, including geopolitical events, affecting the supply of raw materials, provided that the natural disaster, adverse weather conditions or significant market disturbances are formally recognised by the competent authorities.

6.   Union amendments shall be approved by the Commission. The approval procedure shall follow, mutatis mutandis, the procedure laid down in Articles 9 and 10 and Articles 12 to 21.

7.   Applications for Union amendments originating from outside the Union shall contain proof that the requested amendment complies with laws on the protection of geographical indications in force in that third country.

8.   If an application for a Union amendment to the product specification of a registered geographical indication also includes standard amendments or temporary amendments, the Commission shall examine the Union amendment only. Any standard amendments or temporary amendments shall be deemed as not having been submitted. The examination of such applications shall focus on the proposed Union amendments. Where appropriate, the Commission or the Member State concerned may invite the applicant to modify other elements of the product specification.

9.   Standard amendments shall be assessed and approved by Member States or third countries in whose territory the geographical area of the product concerned is located and communicated to the Commission. The Commission shall make those amendments public.

10.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down provisions on Union amendments to product specifications of geographical indications for which no single document was published, on admissibility of applications for Union amendments, on the relationship between Union and standard amendments, and on standard amendments, including their publication.

11.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on procedures, the form and presentation of an application for a Union amendment and on procedures, the form and communication of standard amendments to the Commission. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   The Commission may, on its own initiative or on a duly substantiated request by a Member State, a third country or any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a third country, by means of implementing acts, cancel the registration of a geographical indication in the following cases:

2.   The Commission may also adopt implementing acts cancelling the registration at the request of the producers of the product marketed under the registered name. Where a recognised producer group exists, that producer group shall be the only one entitled to lodge such a request.

3.   The registration of the name as an intellectual property right other than a geographical indication, in particular as a trade mark, shall be prohibited for one year after the cancellation of the registration of a geographical indication, unless such intellectual property right had existed, or such a trade mark had been registered, before the registration of the geographical indication.

4.   Articles 10, 13 to 17 and 21 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cancellation procedure.

Oppositions shall be admissible only if they show continued commercial reliance on the registered name by an interested natural or legal person.

5.   Before adopting the implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Commission shall consult the authorities of the Member State, the authorities of the third country or, where possible, the third country producer which had originally applied for the registration of the geographical indication concerned, unless the cancellation is directly requested by those original applicants. The consultation period shall be at least one month.

6.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on procedures, the form and presentation of the requests for the cancellation of a registration.

7.   The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 6 of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Geographical indications entered in the Union register of geographical indications shall be protected against:

2.   Paragraph 1 shall apply to all domain names accessible in the Union.

3.   National rules on names used for agricultural products, wines and spirit drinks shall not give rise to confusion with registered geographical indications.

4.   The protection referred to in paragraph 1 shall also apply to:

5.   The entities listed in Article 3(1), point (d), of Regulation (EU) No 608/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (29) shall be entitled to submit an application to the customs authorities to prevent all third parties from bringing goods, in the course of trade, into the Union without being released for free circulation there, where such goods, including packaging, come from third countries and are in breach of paragraph 1 of this Article.

6.   Geographical indications registered under this Regulation shall not become generic in the Union.

7.   Where a geographical indication is a compound name which contains a term which is considered to be generic, the use of that term shall not constitute, as a general rule, conduct referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b).

1.   Without prejudice to Article 26 and Article 37(7) of this Regulation and to Articles 7 and 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, the geographical indication designating a product used as an ingredient in a processed product may be used in the name of that processed product, or in its labelling, or in its advertising material where:

2.   In addition, producers of a prepacked food, as defined in Article 2(2), point (e), of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, containing as an ingredient a product designated by a geographical indication, who want to use that geographical indication in the name of that prepacked food, including in advertising material, shall give a prior written notification to the recognised producer group where such a group exists for that geographical indication. Those producers shall include in that notification the information that demonstrates that the conditions listed in paragraph 1 of this Article are complied with and shall act accordingly. The recognised producer group shall acknowledge receipt of that notification in writing within four months. The producer of prepacked food may start using the geographical indication in the name of the prepacked food following the receipt of that acknowledgment or after the expiry of that time period, whichever occurs first. The recognised producer group may attach to that acknowledgement non-binding information on the use of the geographical indication concerned.

Member States may provide, in line with the Treaties, for additional procedural rules concerning the producers of prepacked food established on their territory.

3.   Without prejudice to paragraph 1, the recognised producer group and the producer of prepacked food may conclude a contractual agreement about the specific technical and visual aspects of how the geographical indication of the ingredient is presented in the name of the prepacked food in labelling, elsewhere than in the list of ingredients, or in advertising material.

4.   This Article shall not apply to spirit drinks.

5.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down additional rules on the use of comparable products as ingredients and the criteria of conferring essential characteristics on the processed products referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

1.   Generic terms shall not be registered as geographical indications.

2.   To establish whether or not a term has become generic, account shall be taken of all relevant factors, in particular:

1.   A geographical indication that has been applied for after a wholly or partially homonymous geographical indication had been applied for or protected in the Union, shall not be registered unless there is sufficient distinction in practice between the conditions of local and long-established usage and the presentation of the two wholly or partially homonymous indications, taking into account the need to ensure equitable treatment of the producers concerned and that consumers are not misled as to the true identity or geographical origin of the products.

2.   A wholly or partially homonymous geographical indication which misleads the consumer into believing that products come from another territory shall not be registered even if the name for the actual territory, region or place of origin of the products concerned is accurate.

3.   For the purposes of this Article, a wholly or partially homonymous geographical indication applied for or protected in the Union refers to:

4.   The Commission shall, by means of an implementing act, remove any geographical indication registered in breach of paragraph 1 or 2 from the Union register. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An application for the registration of a trade mark the use of which would contravene Article 26 shall be rejected if the application for registration of the trade mark is submitted after the date of submission to the Commission of the application for the registration of the geographical indication.

2.   Union trade marks registered in breach of paragraph 1 shall be declared invalid by the EUIPO and national trade marks registered in breach of paragraph 1 shall be declared invalid by the competent national authorities.

3.   A trade mark the use of which contravenes Article 26, but which has been applied for, registered, or established through use in good faith within the territory of the Union, where that possibility is provided for in the relevant legislation, before the date of submission of the application for registration of the geographical indication to the Commission, may continue to be used and renewed notwithstanding the registration of a geographical indication, provided that no grounds for invalidity or revocation of the trade mark exist under Directive (EU) 2015/2436 or Regulation (EU) 2017/1001. In such cases, the use of the geographical indication, once registered, and that of the relevant trade mark shall be permitted.

4.   For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 3, where geographical indications were registered in the Union without the submission of an application for registration at Union stage, the date of submission to the Commission of the application for registration of the geographical indication shall be the date of the first day of protection.

5.   Without prejudice to Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, the guarantee or certification marks referred to in Article 28(4) of Directive (EU) 2015/2436 and collective marks referred to in Article 29(3) of that Directive, as well as collective marks as referred to in Chapter VIII of Regulation (EU) 2017/1001 may be used on labels together with the geographical indication.

1.   A producer group shall be an association of producers of the same product or products, irrespective of its legal form. It shall meet the following criteria:

Applicant producer groups shall meet those criteria no later than on the date of registration of the geographical indication concerned.

A producer of a product designated by a geographical indication shall have the right to join a producer group. Member States may restrict membership to certain categories of producers, taking into account the nature of the product covered by the producer group concerned.

2.   Member States may decide that operators and representatives of economic activities linked to one of the stages of the supply chain of products designated by a geographical indication and stakeholders referred to in Article 157 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 may be members of a producer group, if they have a specific interest in the products covered by the producer group. Those members shall not control the producer group.

3.   Member States may provide for additional rules, in particular as regards the organisation, statutes, functioning and the nature of membership of, and financial contributions to, producer groups.

4.   A producer group may exercise in particular the following tasks:

5.   Member States may, within their territory, assist producers in the creation and functioning of producer groups.

6.   If no producer group exists for a product designated by a geographical indication, Member States may exercise the tasks referred to in paragraph 4, points (b), (e) and (f). Member States shall interact with producers and shall assist them with a view to establishing a producer group.

7.   Member States may set up a public register of producer groups for products designated by geographical indications originating in their territory, including authorities referred to in Article 9(2) and producers referred to in Article 9(3). That register shall contain, at least, the name, the legal form and the address of each producer group and all geographical indications covered by the producer group concerned.

1.   In addition to Article 32, Member States may apply a system of recognition of producer groups. The recognition system may be applied to all producer groups whose members produce a product which is designated by a geographical indication or to producer groups producing specified categories of products designated by geographical indications. A producer group may only be recognised upon request. Within the framework of the recognition system, the authorities referred to in Article 9(2) and producers referred to in Article 9(3) shall be deemed to be recognised producer groups.

2.   Member States that apply the system referred to in paragraph 1 shall provide for the following criteria for a producer group to be recognised:

Member States may provide for additional criteria, such as:

If a producer group ceases to fulfil the recognition criteria, the recognition shall be suspended or withdrawn.

3.   Where a producer group is recognised under the system referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the recognised producer group shall be the only one entitled to:

4.   Member States may also provide that the recognised producer group is the only producer group entitled to exercise the tasks:

5.   A producer group established in a Member State not applying a system referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be able to exercise the tasks referred to in Article 32(4), points (b), (c), (e), and (f) in a Member State applying such a system.

6.   Where a geographical indication designates a cross-border geographical area, the authorities of the Member States concerned or, where relevant, of the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland, shall cooperate in designating a single recognised producer group. Where the Member States concerned or, where relevant, the United Kingdom in respect of Northern Ireland, fail to reach an agreement, or where one of the Member States concerned does not apply the system referred to in paragraph 1, no producer group shall be recognised for that geographical indication.

7.   Member States may decide that producer groups recognised under national law before 13 May 2024 are recognised in accordance with paragraph 1.

If such a recognised producer group does not meet the criteria set out in paragraph 2, it shall adapt to the relevant rules by 14 May 2026. If compliance is not achieved by that date, the Member State concerned shall either prolong that deadline once for a maximum of one year, or withdraw the recognition.

8.   If a Member State applies the system of recognised producer groups referred to in paragraph 1, it shall notify the Commission through a digital system of the name and address of the recognised producer group for each registered geographical indication and update that information when a change occurs. The Commission shall make that information publicly available and update the Union register of geographical indications accordingly.

1.   An association of producer groups may be set up on the initiative of interested producer groups.

2.   An association of producer groups may exercise in particular the following tasks:

1.   Country-code top-level domain name registries established in the Union shall ensure that alternative dispute resolution procedures for domain names recognise registered geographical indications as a right that can be invoked in those procedures.

2.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down the provisions entrusting the EUIPO to establish and manage a domain name information and alert system that would provide the applicant upon the submission of an application for a geographical indication with information about the availability of the geographical indication as a domain name and, on an optional basis, about the registration of a domain name identical to their geographical indication. Country-code top-level domain name registries, established in the Union, may provide the EUIPO with the relevant information and data, on a voluntary basis.

3.   By 14 November 2025 the Commission shall carry out an evaluation of the necessity and feasibility of an information and alert system referred to in paragraph 2, taking into account the functioning of the voluntary provision of information and data referred to in that paragraph, and submit a report with its main findings to the European Parliament and the Council. That report shall be accompanied by a legislative proposal, where appropriate.

1.   Indications, abbreviations and symbols referring to geographical indications shall not be used other than in connection with products produced in compliance with the relevant product specification. They may also be used for information and educational purposes, provided that such use is not likely to mislead the consumer.

2.   The following Union symbols designed to mark and publicise geographical indications shall be established:

3.   In the case of agricultural products and spirit drinks originating in the Union that are marketed under a geographical indication, the Union symbol associated with it shall appear in the labelling and advertising material. As regards the labelling, the geographical indication shall appear in the same field of vision as the Union symbol.

The labelling requirements laid down in Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 for the presentation of mandatory particulars shall apply to the geographical indication.

4.   By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of paragraph 3, in the case of spirit drinks, Union symbols may be omitted.

5.   Where agricultural products are designated by a geographical indication, an indication of the name of the producer or operator shall appear in the labelling, in the same field of vision as the geographical indication. In that case, the name of the operator shall be understood as the name of the operator responsible for the production stage at which the product to be covered by the geographical indication is obtained, or responsible for carrying out substantial processing of that product.

In the case of spirit drinks designated by a geographical indication, an indication of the name of the producer shall appear in the labelling, in the same field of vision as the geographical indication.

Where packaging or containers have as their largest surface that described in Article 16(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011, the indication of the name of the producer or operator shall be voluntary.

Agricultural products and spirit drinks that are marketed under a geographical indication, which were labelled before 14 May 2026, may continue to be placed on the market without complying with the obligation to indicate the name of the producer or operator in the same field of vision as the geographical indication, until existing stocks are exhausted.

6.   Where agricultural products or spirit drinks are designated by a geographical indication, the indications ‘protected designation of origin’ or ‘protected geographical indication’ may appear in the labelling and advertising material of agricultural products and the indication ‘geographical indication’ may appear in the labelling and advertising material of spirit drinks, respectively.

The abbreviations ‘PDO’ or ‘PGI’, corresponding to the indications ‘protected designation of origin’ or ‘protected geographical indication’, may appear in the labelling and advertising material of agricultural products designated by a geographical indication.

7.   Indications and abbreviations may be used in the labelling and advertising material of processed products when the geographical indication refers to an ingredient thereof. In that case, the indication or abbreviation shall be placed next to the name of the ingredient that is clearly identified as an ingredient. The Union symbol shall not be placed in association with the name of the food within the meaning of Article 17 of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011.

8.   Union symbols indicating the protected designation of origin or protected geographical indication and the indications ‘protected designation of origin’, ‘protected geographical indication’ and ‘geographical indication’ and the abbreviations ‘PDO’ or ‘PGI’ as relevant, may appear on the labelling only after the publication of the act of registration of that geographical indication.

9.   The following may also appear in the labelling:

10.   Union symbols associated with geographical indications entered in the Union register of geographical indications designating products originating in third countries, may appear in the product labelling and advertising material, in which case the symbols shall be used in conformity with paragraph 3.

11.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, specify the technical characteristics of the Union symbols for geographical indications as well as the technical rules on their use and the use of the indications and abbreviations on products marketed under a registered geographical indication, including linguistic versions. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   This Chapter applies to wine, spirit drinks and agricultural products.

However, paragraph 2, first subparagraph, point (a), paragraph 3 and, as regards the verification of compliance with the product specification, paragraph 4 of this Article, and Articles 39, 40, 41 and 44 apply only to spirit drinks and agricultural products.

2.   For the purposes of this Chapter, controls mean:

For the purposes of this Chapter, enforcement includes any action that aims to ensure compliance with Title II, Chapter 3, of this Regulation.

3.   Competent authorities, delegated bodies and natural persons to which certain official control tasks have been delegated shall comply with the requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

4.   Notwithstanding Article 116(1) of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, the Commission shall perform the controls, including audits, on geographical indications provided for in Title VI, Chapter I, of Regulation (EU) 2017/625, based on a risk analysis, according to the relative volume of geographical indications in the Member State, the number of checks carried out or the irregularities linked to the verification of compliance or of use of the geographical indications set out in the Member State’s annual report prepared in accordance with Article 113 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625. Article 116(2) and Articles 118 and 120 to 124 of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 shall not apply to controls, including audits, of geographical indications.

1.   For the purposes of this Chapter, each operator wishing to participate in any activity covered by the product specification of a product designated by a geographical indication shall notify the competent authorities, delegated bodies or natural persons referred to in paragraph 3, points (a) and (b). Member States shall draw up and keep up-to-date a list of operators who perform activities subject to one or more obligations provided for in the product specification of a product designated by a geographical indication entered in the Union register of geographical indications originating in their territory.

2.   Producers are responsible for own controls that ensure compliance with the product specification of products designated by geographical indications before the product is placed on the market.

3.   In addition to own controls referred to in paragraph 2, prior to placing on the market a product designated by a geographical indication and originating in the Union, verification of compliance with the product specification, shall be carried out by:

4.   In respect of geographical indications that designate products originating in a third country, the verification of compliance with the product specification, before placing the product concerned on the market, shall be carried out by:

5.   If an activity covered by the product specification is carried out by one or more operators in a country other than the country of the origin of the geographical indication, provisions for verification of compliance of those operators shall be set out in the product specification. If the relevant operation takes place in the Union, the operators shall notify it to the competent authorities of the Member State where the operation takes place and be subject to verification.

6.   Where a Member State applies Article 9(2), the verification of compliance with the product specification shall be ensured by an authority other than that deemed to be a producer group under that paragraph.

7.   The costs of verification of compliance with the product specification may be borne by the operators which are subject to those controls. Member States may collect fees or charges to cover, in whole or in part, the costs of official controls and other official activities.

8.   The Commission shall adopt implementing acts concerning:

Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Member States shall make public the names and addresses of the competent authorities, delegated bodies and natural persons referred to in Article 39(3) for each product designated by a geographical indication and shall keep that information up-to-date.

2.   The Commission shall make public the names and addresses of the competent authorities and product certification bodies referred to in Article 39(4) and shall update that information regularly.

3.   The Commission may establish a digital portal where the names and addresses of the competent authorities, delegated and product certification bodies and natural persons referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 are made public.

1.   The delegated bodies referred to in Article 39(3), point (b), and the product certification bodies referred to in Article 39(4), point (b), shall comply with and be accredited in accordance with either of the following standards as relevant for the delegated tasks:

2.   Accreditation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be performed by a national accreditation body recognised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, that is a signatory of a Multilateral Agreement in the framework of the European Cooperation for Accreditation covering the standards referred to in paragraph 1, or by an accreditation body outside the Union that is a signatory of a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement of the International Accreditation Forum or a Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation covering the standards referred to in paragraph 1.

1.   Member States shall designate one or more competent authorities responsible for verification of, and enforcement actions on, the use of geographical indications after the product designated by a geographical indication has been placed on the market, which includes operations such as storage, transit, distribution or offering for sale, including in electronic commerce. Those authorities may be the same as the competent authorities referred to in Article 39(3), point (a), of this Regulation and Article 116a(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013.

2.   The authorities referred to in paragraph 1 shall, regularly and with appropriate frequency based on risk analysis and on notifications received, including from producer groups, act to ensure compliance with the product specification or with the single document or an equivalent to the single document for the geographical indication concerned, including in online presentations and labelling.

3.   Member States shall take appropriate administrative and judicial steps to prevent or stop the use of names of products or services, including through online interfaces, that are produced, provided or marketed in their territory, or intended for export to third countries, and that contravenes Articles 26 and 27.

4.   Member States shall take appropriate administrative and judicial steps to disable access to domain names that contravene Article 26(2) from their territory.

5.   The authority or authorities designated in accordance with paragraph 1 shall facilitate the information exchange among relevant departments, agencies and bodies, such as police, anti-counterfeiting agencies, customs, intellectual property offices, food law authorities and retail inspectors, to ensure efficient enforcement.

1.   Any information related to the advertising, promotion and sale of products that is accessible to persons established in the Union and that contravenes the protection of geographical indications provided for in Articles 26 and 27 of this Regulation shall be considered illegal content as defined in Article 3, point (h), of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065.

2.   The relevant national judicial or administrative authorities of the Member States may, in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, issue an order to act against illegal content referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

3.   In accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, any individual or entity may notify providers of hosting services of the presence of a specific content that is in breach of Articles 26 and 27 of this Regulation.

1.   Member States shall assist each other for the purpose of carrying out the controls and enforcement provided for in this Chapter in accordance with Title IV of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

2.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on the nature and the type of the information to be exchanged among Member States and the methods for exchanging that information for the purpose of controls and enforcement under this Chapter. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An operator whose product, following the verification of compliance referred to in Article 39 of this Regulation and Article 116a of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013, is found to comply with the product specification of a geographical indication protected in accordance with this Regulation shall, on request, and depending on the system applied in the Member State concerned, be entitled to either:

2.   The attestation of compliance and the listing referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b), respectively, shall be made available on request to enforcement authorities, customs or other authorities in the Union engaged in verifying the use of geographical indications on goods declared for free circulation or placed on the internal market. The operator may make the attestation or the listing available to the public or to any person who may request proof of compliance in the course of business. That attestation and listing shall be updated periodically, based on a risk assessment.

3.   An operator that is no longer accorded the attestation of compliance or that has been removed from the list shall not be allowed to continue to display or use the attestation of compliance or the listing.

4.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on the form and content of the attestation of compliance and listing, the forms in which they are to be made available by the operators or traders for control or in the course of business, as well as on the circumstances under which, and the forms in which, an equivalent attestation is required in the case of products originating in third countries. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A ‘designation of origin’ of an agricultural product is a name which identifies a product:

2.   A ‘geographical indication’ of an agricultural product is a name which identifies a product:

3.   Notwithstanding paragraph 1, certain names shall be registered as designations of origin even though the raw materials for the products concerned come from a geographical area larger than, or different from, the defined geographical area, provided that:

For the purposes of this paragraph, only live animals, meat and milk may be considered as raw materials.

1.   In respect of a product of animal origin, the name of which is registered as a designation of origin, feed shall be sourced entirely from within the defined geographical area.

2.   Insofar as sourcing entirely from within the defined geographical area is not practicable, feed sourced from outside that area may be added, provided that the product quality or characteristics essentially due to the geographical environment are not affected. The amount of feed sourced from outside the defined geographical area shall not exceed 50 % of dry matter on an annual basis.

3.   A temporary amendment, as referred to in Article 24(5), may derogate from paragraph 2 of this Article until the possibility of sourcing feed from within the defined geographical area can be re-established, provided that the link referred to in Article 49(1), point (f)(i), is not entirely voided.

4.   Any restrictions to the origin of raw materials provided in the product specification of a product the name of which is registered as a geographical indication shall be justified with respect to the link referred to in Article 49(1), point (f)(ii).

5.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down derogations and conditions with regard to the slaughtering of live animals and with regard to the sourcing of raw materials. Those derogations and conditions shall be based on objective criteria and shall take into account animal welfare, quality or usage of raw materials and recognised know-how or natural factors, including constraints affecting agricultural production in certain areas.

1.   A name may not be registered as a geographical indication where it conflicts with a plant variety or animal breed denomination and is likely to mislead the consumer as to the true identity or origin of the product designated by the geographical indication or cause confusion between products designated by the geographical indication and the plant variety or animal breed concerned.

2.   The conditions referred to in paragraph 1 shall be assessed in relation to the actual use of the names in conflict, including the use of the plant variety or animal breed denomination outside its area of origin and the use of the denomination of a plant variety.

3.   This Regulation shall not prevent the placing on the market of a product that does not conform with the product specification of a registered geographical indication, the labelling of which includes the name or part of the name of that geographical indication, that contains or comprises the plant variety or animal breed denomination, provided that the following conditions are met:

4.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down rules for determining the use of plant variety and animal breed denominations.

1.   A product specification shall include at least:

2.   The product specification may also include:

3.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down rules which limit the information contained in the product specification referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, where such a limitation is necessary to avoid excessively voluminous applications for registration.

4.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules on the form of the product specification. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   The single document shall comprise:

2.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down the format and the online presentation of the single document provided for in paragraph 1 of this Article and provide for the exclusion or anonymisation of personal data. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A scheme for traditional specialities guaranteed (TSGs) is established to safeguard traditional methods of production and recipes by helping:

2.   The registration and the protection of traditional specialities guaranteed are without prejudice to the obligation of producers to comply with other Union rules, in particular relating to the placing of products on the market, to the single common organisation of the markets, and to food labelling.

3.   Directive (EU) 2015/1535 shall not apply to the scheme for traditional specialities guaranteed laid down in this Regulation.

1.   A name shall be eligible for registration as a traditional speciality guaranteed where it describes a product that:

2.   For a name to be registered as a traditional speciality guaranteed, it shall:

3.   Where, in the opposition procedure under Article 61, it is demonstrated that the name is also used in another Member State or in a third country, in order to distinguish comparable products or products that share an identical or similar name, the decision on registration adopted in accordance with Article 64(3), point (b) may provide that the name of the traditional speciality guaranteed is to be accompanied by the claim ‘made following the tradition of’ immediately followed by the name of a country or a region thereof.

4.   A name shall not be registered if it refers only to claims of a general nature used for a set of products, or to claims provided for in particular Union legislation.

5.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down additional rules clarifying the eligibility criteria laid down in this Article.

1.   A product specification shall include at least:

The product specification may also include labelling requirements.

2.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down rules which limit the information contained in the product specification, where such a limitation is necessary to avoid excessively voluminous applications for registration.

3.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules on the form of the product specification. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A producer group shall be an association, irrespective of its legal form, composed of producers of the same product or products. It shall be set up on the initiative of producers according to the nature of the product or products concerned. A producer group shall operate in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. It shall also be democratically organised, controlled and scrutinised by its members.

2.   Member States may decide that operators, representatives of economic activities linked to one of the stages of the supply chain of products designated by a traditional speciality guaranteed and stakeholders referred to in Article 157 of Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 may be members of a producer group, if they have a specific interest in the products covered by the producer group. Those members shall not control the producer group.

3.   A producer group may exercise in particular the following tasks:

1.   Applications for the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed may only be submitted by an applicant producer group. An applicant producer group shall be an association, irrespective of its legal form, composed of producers of the same product the name of which is proposed for registration or of a single producer where the person concerned is the only producer willing to submit an application. Several applicant producer groups from different Member States or third countries may lodge a joint application for registration. Public bodies and other interested parties may assist in the preparation of the application and in the related procedure.

2.   An application for registration of a name as a traditional speciality guaranteed shall comprise:

3.   Where the application is prepared by a producer group established in a Member State, the application shall be addressed to the authorities of that Member State. The Member State shall examine the application in order to check that it meets the conditions of the eligibility criteria referred to in Article 53. As part of that examination, the Member State shall conduct a national opposition procedure. If the Member State considers that the requirements of this Chapter are met, it may take a favourable decision and submit an application for registration at Union stage as referred to in Article 58.

4.   The Member State shall ensure that any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest has the opportunity to challenge its decision. The Member State shall also ensure that a favourable decision and the corresponding product specification are published, and shall provide electronic access to the product specification.

1.   An application for the registration at Union stage of a traditional speciality guaranteed shall comprise the product specification as provided for in Article 54 and:

2.   The documents referred to in paragraph 1 shall be drafted in one of the official languages of the Union.

3.   A joint application shall include the product specification as provided for in Article 54 and, if relevant, the declaration referred to in paragraph 1, point (b), of this Article from all Member States or third countries concerned. The related national procedures, including the opposition stage, shall be carried out in all the Member States concerned.

4.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on procedures, the form and presentation of applications for registration, including applications for the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed concerning more than one national territory. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An application for the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed at Union stage shall be submitted to the Commission electronically, through a digital system. Following a request from at least one Member State, the Commission shall adapt the digital system to make it suitable to be used in the national part of the procedure for registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed by any Member State who so wishes.

2.   Where the application for registration is prepared by an applicant established in a third country, the application shall be submitted to the Commission, either directly by an applicant, namely a producer group or a single producer, or via the authorities of the third country concerned.

3.   A joint application for registration referred to in Article 56(1) shall be submitted by:

4.   The names for which applications for registration at Union stage have been submitted shall be made public by the Commission through the digital system referred to in paragraph 1.

1.   The Commission shall examine any application that it receives in accordance with Article 58(1), (2) and (3) in order to check that it contains the required information and that it contains no manifest errors, taking into account the outcome of the examination and opposition procedure carried out by the Member State concerned. Such examination shall take into account the outcome of the national stage of the procedure carried out by the Member State concerned.

2.   The examination shall not exceed a period of six months from the day of the reception of the application. The Commission may request from the applicant any necessary supplementary information or modification. Where the Commission addresses to the applicant such request, the examination period shall not exceed a period of five months from the day on which the Commission receives the applicant’s reply.

3.   In the event that the Commission does not conclude the examination referred to in paragraph 2 within the prescribed deadlines, it shall inform the applicant of the reasons for the delay in writing indicating the estimated time necessary to conclude it, which shall not exceed one month.

4.   Where, based on the examination carried out in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article, the Commission considers that the conditions laid down in Articles 53, 54, 56 and 57 are fulfilled, it shall publish the product specification in the Official Journal of the European Union.

1.   Member States shall keep the Commission informed of any national administrative or judicial proceedings that may prejudice the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed.

2.   The Commission shall be exempted from the obligation to meet the deadlines to perform the examination referred to in Article 59(2) and to inform the Member State of the reasons for the delay where it receives a communication from a Member State, concerning an application for registration in accordance with Article 56, which:

3.   The exemption shall have effect until the Commission is informed by the Member State that the original application has been restored or that the Member State withdraws its request for suspension.

4.   If the favourable decision of a Member State referred to in Article 56(3) has been invalidated in full or in part by a final decision taken by a national court, the Member State shall consider appropriate action such as withdrawal or modification of the application for registration at Union stage, as necessary.

1.   Within three months from the date of publication of the product specification in the Official Journal of the European Union in accordance with Article 59(4), the authorities of a Member State or of a third country, or a natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a third country, may lodge an opposition with the Commission.

2.   Any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a Member State other than the one from which the application for registration at Union stage was submitted, may lodge an opposition with the Member State in which it is established or resident, within a time limit permitting that Member State to examine that opposition and to decide whether to lodge it with the Commission in accordance with paragraph 1. Member States may specify that time limit in their national legislation.

3.   An opposition shall state that it opposes the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed. An opposition that does not contain that statement shall be void.

4.   The Commission shall check the admissibility of the opposition. If the Commission considers that the opposition is admissible it shall, within five months from the date of publication referred to in Article 59(4) of the product specification in the Official Journal of the European Union, invite the opponent and the applicant to engage in appropriate consultations for a reasonable period that shall not exceed three months. The Commission shall transmit to the applicant the opposition and all the documents provided by the opponent. At any time during that period, the Commission may, at the request of the applicant, extend the deadline for the consultations once by a maximum of three months.

5.   The opponent and the applicant shall start consultations without undue delay. They shall provide each other with the relevant information to assess whether the application for registration complies with the conditions of this Chapter.

6.   Within one month from the end of the consultations referred to in paragraph 4, the applicant shall notify the Commission of the result of the consultations, including all the information exchanged, whether agreement was reached with one or all of the opponents, and of any consequent changes to the application. The opponent may also notify the Commission of its position at the end of the consultations.

7.   Where, following the end of the consultations, the product specification published in accordance with Article 59(4) has been modified, the Commission shall repeat its examination of the application for registration as modified. Where the application has been modified in a substantial manner, and the Commission considers that the modified application meets the conditions for registration, it shall publish again the product specification in accordance with that paragraph.

8.   The documents referred to in this Article shall be drafted in one of the official languages of the Union.

9.   The Commission shall finalise its assessment of the application for registration at Union stage, taking into account any request for transitional periods, the outcome of the opposition procedure and any other matters arising subsequently to its examination that may imply a change of the product specification.

10.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down detailed procedures and deadlines for the opposition procedure.

11.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down the format and presentation of oppositions and provide for the exclusion or anonymisation of personal data. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An opposition lodged in accordance with Article 61 shall be admissible only if the opponent shows that:

2.   The admissibility of an opposition shall be assessed in relation to the territory of the Union.

1.   For products the designation of which consists of or contains a name that contravenes Article 68, the Commission may, by means of implementing acts, grant a transitional period of up to five years to enable the continued use of the designation under which those products were marketed, provided that an admissible opposition, in accordance with Article 56(3) or Article 61, to the application for registration of the traditional speciality guaranteed whose protection is contravened, shows that such designation has been legally used on the internal market for at least five years preceding the date of the publication of the product specification referred to in Article 59(4).

2.   The implementing acts referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2), except those where an admissible opposition is lodged in accordance with Article 56(3), which shall be adopted without applying that examination procedure.

1.   Where, on the basis of the information available to the Commission from the examination carried out in accordance with Article 59, the Commission considers that any of the conditions referred to in that Article is not fulfilled, it shall, by means of implementing acts, reject the application for registration. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

2.   In the absence of an admissible opposition, the Commission shall, by means of implementing acts and without applying the procedure referred to in Article 88(2), register the traditional speciality guaranteed.

3.   Where the Commission receives an admissible opposition, it shall, following the procedure referred to in Article 61 and taking into account the results thereof:

4.   The implementing acts on registering a traditional speciality guaranteed shall provide for any conditions applicable to the registration and for the republication for information of the product specification published in accordance with Article 59(4) and modified following the opposition procedure in the case of modifications other than those referred to in Article 61(7).

5.   Commission implementing regulations on registration and Commission implementing decisions on rejection shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L series.

1.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts and without applying the procedure referred to in Article 88(2), establish and maintain a publicly accessible Union register of traditional specialities guaranteed. Files entered in that register after 13 May 2024 shall be in a machine-readable format as defined in Article 2, point (13), of Directive (EU) 2019/1024.

2.   The Commission shall retain, in digital or paper form, documentation related to the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed. In the event of cancellation of the registration, the Commission shall retain the documentation for 10 years thereafter.

3.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, specify the content and presentation of the Union register of traditional specialities guaranteed. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A producer group of a product the name of which is a registered traditional speciality guaranteed may apply for the approval of an amendment to the product specification. Applications shall describe and give reasons for the amendments requested.

2.   The procedure for the amendment of a product specification shall follow, mutatis mutandis, the procedure laid down in Articles 56 to 64.

3.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down the rules on the procedure for the amendment of a product specification.

4.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on procedures, the form and presentation of an application for the amendment of a product specification. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   The Commission may, on its own initiative or on a duly substantiated request by a Member State, a third country or any natural or legal person having a legitimate interest and established or resident in a third country, by means of implementing acts, cancel the registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed in the following cases:

2.   The Commission may also, by means of implementing acts, cancel a registration at the request of the producers of the product marketed under the registered name.

3.   Articles 56 to 62 and Article 64 shall apply mutatis mutandis to the cancellation procedure.

Oppositions shall be admissible only if they show continued commercial reliance on the registered name by an interested natural or legal person.

4.   Before adopting the implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, the Commission shall consult the authorities of the Member State concerned, the authorities of the third country concerned or, where possible, the third country producer which had originally applied for the registration of the traditional speciality guaranteed, unless the cancellation is directly requested by those original applicants. The consultation period shall be at least one month.

5.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on procedures, the form and presentation of the requests for the cancellation of a registration of a traditional speciality guaranteed.

6.   The implementing acts referred to in paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 of this Article shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Registered traditional specialities guaranteed shall be protected against any misuse, imitation or evocation, even if the protected name is translated, including as regards products used as ingredients, or against any other practice liable to mislead the consumer.

2.   The names used for agricultural products and foodstuffs at national level shall not give rise to confusion with registered traditional specialities guaranteed.

3.   The protection referred to in paragraph 1 shall also apply with regard to products sold through means of distance selling, such as electronic commerce.

4.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down procedural requirements for the protection of traditional specialities guaranteed. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

5.   The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down additional rules on the use of traditional specialities guaranteed in the name of processed products with reference to the use of comparable ingredients and the criteria of conferring essential characteristics on the processed products.

1.   A Union symbol shall be established for products designated as traditional speciality guaranteed. The indication ‘traditional speciality guaranteed’, the abbreviation ‘TSG’, and the Union symbol referring to the traditional speciality guaranteed may only be used in connection with products produced in compliance with the relevant product specification. They may also be used for information and educational purposes, provided that such use is not likely to mislead the consumer. The indication ‘traditional speciality guaranteed’ or the corresponding abbreviation ‘TSG’ may appear in the labelling.

2.   In the case of products originating in the Union that are marketed as traditional speciality guaranteed registered in accordance with this Regulation, the Union symbol referred to in paragraph 2 shall appear in the labelling and advertising materials together with the registered name in the same field of vision. The labelling requirements set out in Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 for the presentation of mandatory particulars shall apply to the registered traditional speciality guaranteed.

3.   The Union symbol may be used in the labelling of traditional specialities guaranteed which are produced outside the Union.

4.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, specify the technical characteristics of the Union symbol as well as the technical rules on their use and the use of the indication and the abbreviation on products marketed under a traditional speciality guaranteed, including linguistic versions. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   A name registered as a traditional speciality guaranteed may be used by any operator marketing a product that complies with the corresponding product specification.

2.   Member States shall ensure that operators are covered by the verification of compliance with the product specification established in accordance with Article 72.

1.   Controls of traditional specialities guaranteed mean:

2.   For the purposes of this Chapter, enforcement includes any action that aims to ensure compliance with Articles 68, 69 and 70 of this Regulation.

3.   Competent authorities, delegated bodies and natural persons to which certain official control tasks have been delegated shall comply with the respective requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

4.   Each operator wishing to participate in any activity subject to one or more obligations provided for in the product specification of a product designated by a traditional speciality guaranteed shall notify the competent authorities, delegated bodies or natural persons referred to in paragraph 6, points (a) and (b).

Member States shall draw up and keep up-to-date a list of operators who perform activities subject to one or more obligations provided for in the product specification of a product designated by a traditional speciality guaranteed entered in the Union register of traditional specialities guaranteed in their territory.

5.   Producers shall be responsible for own controls that ensure compliance with the product specification of products designated by traditional specialities guaranteed before the product is placed on the market.

6.   In addition to own controls referred to in paragraph 5, prior to placing on the market a product designated by a traditional speciality guaranteed and originating in the Union, verification of compliance with the product specification shall be carried out by:

7.   In respect of traditional specialities guaranteed that designate products originating in a third country, the verification of compliance with the product specification before the placing on the market of the product shall be carried out by:

The costs of verification of compliance with the product specification may be borne by the operators which are subject to those controls. Member States may charge a fee to cover their costs of verification of compliance with the product specification.

8.   Member States shall make public the names and addresses of the competent authorities, delegated bodies and natural persons referred to in paragraph 6 for each product designated by a traditional speciality guaranteed and keep that information up-to-date.

9.   The Commission shall make public the names and addresses of the competent authorities and product certification bodies referred to in paragraph 7 and update that information regularly.

10.   The Commission may establish a digital portal where the name and the address of the competent authorities, delegated and product certification bodies and natural persons referred to in paragraphs 6 and 7 are made public.

11.   The Commission shall adopt implementing acts concerning the communication to be made by the third countries to the Commission, including on names and addresses of the competent authorities and product certification bodies. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

12.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts and without applying the procedure referred to in Article 88(2), lay down the means by which the name and address of competent authorities and delegated bodies referred to in this Article are to be made public.

1.   The delegated bodies referred to in Article 72(6), point (b), and the product certification bodies referred to in Article 72(7), point (b), shall comply with and be accredited in accordance with either of the following standards as relevant for the delegated tasks:

2.   Accreditation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be performed by a national accreditation body recognised in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008, that is a signatory of a Multilateral Agreement in the framework of the European Cooperation for Accreditation covering the standards referred to in paragraph 1, or by an accreditation body outside the Union that is a signatory of a Multilateral Recognition Arrangement of the International Accreditation Forum or a Mutual Recognition Arrangement of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation covering the standards referred to paragraph 1.

1.   Member States shall designate one or more competent authorities responsible for verification of, and enforcement actions on, the use of traditional speciality guaranteed after the product designated by a traditional speciality guaranteed has been placed on the market, which includes operations such as storage, transit, distribution or offering for sale, including in electronic commerce. Those authorities may be the same as the competent authorities referred to in Article 72(6), point (a). Verification of the use of traditional specialities guaranteed shall be carried out on the basis of a risk analysis.

2.   The authorities referred to in paragraph 1 shall ensure the compliance with the product specification for the traditional speciality guaranteed concerned.

3.   Member States shall take appropriate administrative and judicial steps to prevent or stop the use of names of products or services that are produced, provided or marketed in their territory, or intended for export to third countries, and that contravenes the protection of traditional specialities guaranteed provided for in Article 68.

4.   The authority or authorities designated in accordance with paragraph 1 shall facilitate the information exchange among relevant departments, agencies and bodies, such as police, anti-counterfeiting agencies, customs, intellectual property offices, food law authorities and retail inspectors, to ensure efficient enforcement.

1.   Any information related to the advertising, promotion and sale of products that is accessible to persons established in the Union and that contravenes the protection of traditional speciality guaranteed provided for in Article 68 of this Regulation shall be considered illegal content as defined in Article 3, point (h), of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065.

2.   The relevant national judicial or administrative authorities of the Member States may, in accordance with Article 9 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2065, issue an order to act against illegal content referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

1.   Member States shall assist each other for the purpose of carrying out the controls and enforcement provided for in this Chapter in accordance with Title IV of Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

2.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on the nature and the type of the information to be exchanged among Member States and the methods for exchanging that information for the purpose of controls and enforcement under this Chapter. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   An operator whose product, following the verification of compliance referred to in Article 72, is found to comply with the product specification of a traditional speciality guaranteed protected in accordance with this Regulation shall, on request, and depending on the system applied in the Member State concerned, be entitled to either:

2.   The attestation of compliance and the listing referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b) respectively, shall be updated periodically, based on a risk assessment.

3.   An operator that is no longer accorded the attestation of compliance or that has been removed from the list shall not continue to display or use the attestation of compliance or the listing.

4.   The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, lay down detailed rules on the form and content of the attestation of compliance and listing, as well as on the circumstances under which, and the forms in which, they are to be made available by the operators or traders for control or in the course of business, including in the case of an equivalent attestation concerning products originating in third countries. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Member States may maintain national rules on optional quality terms and schemes which are not covered by this Regulation, provided that such rules comply with Union law.

2.   The Commission may establish and provide support for a digital system for the inclusion of the terms and schemes referred to in paragraph 1 with a view to fostering knowledge of the products and schemes across the Union. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down technical details necessary for the notification of the optional quality terms. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

1.   Optional quality terms shall satisfy the following criteria:

2.   Optional quality terms that describe technical product qualities with the purpose of putting into effect compulsory marketing standards and are not intended to inform consumers about those product qualities shall fall outside the scope of this Chapter.

3.   Optional quality terms shall exclude optional reserved terms which support and complement specific marketing standards determined on a sectoral or product category basis.

4.   In order to take into account the specific characteristics of certain sectors as well as consumer expectations, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down detailed rules on the criteria referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

5.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules on forms, procedures or other technical details necessary for the application of this Chapter. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

6.   When adopting delegated and implementing acts in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5, the Commission shall take account of any relevant international standards.

1.   The term ‘mountain product’ shall be established as an optional quality term. It shall be reserved as a compound term. It shall only be used to describe products intended for human consumption listed in Annex I to the TFEU in respect of which:

2.   For the purposes of this Article, mountain areas within the Union are those delimited pursuant to Article 32(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (30).

For third-country products, mountain areas shall include areas officially designated as mountain areas by the third country concerned or that meet criteria equivalent to those set out in Article 32(2) of Regulation (EU) No 1305/2013.

3.   In duly justified cases and in order to take into account natural constraints affecting agricultural production in mountain areas, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation by laying down derogations from the conditions referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, in particular the conditions under which raw materials or feed are permitted to come from outside the mountain areas, the conditions under which the processing of products is permitted to take place outside the mountain areas in a geographical area to be defined, and the definition of that geographical area.

4.   In order to take into account natural constraints affecting agricultural production in mountain areas, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 87 supplementing this Regulation concerning the establishment of the methods of production and other criteria relevant for the application of the optional quality term referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

1.   An optional quality term may only be used to describe products that comply with the corresponding conditions of use.

2.   The provisions of this Chapter shall be without prejudice to the application of Union or national rules governing intellectual property, and in particular those concerning designations of origin and geographical indications and trade marks and rights granted under those rules.

3.   The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, lay down rules for the use of optional quality terms. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 88(2).

4.   Member States shall undertake controls, based on a risk analysis, to ensure compliance with the requirements of this Chapter and, in the event of breach, shall impose appropriate administrative penalties.