On Thursday, 12 June, the 7th Latvian Rural Communities’ Parliament took place in Mālpils, in which the Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia (LPO) also participated to inform Latvian craftsmen, producers, and local municipalities’ representatives about the new system of Geographical Indications, which provides for the protection of craft and industrial products at the level of the European Union (EU). Ms Valerie Marie d’Avigneau, the legal and policy officer, the Intellectual Property Unit, EC DG GROW, Mr Sandris Laganovskis, the director, the Cooperation and Partnerships Department, EUIPO, and Ms Elna Isaksson, the team leader, the GI Division, the Business Operations Department, EUIPO were among the experts of this area.
During the thematic working group "Geographical Indications and the Identity of Local Products”, the experts from the LPO, the Ministry of Justice, the European Commission, and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) highlighted the most important points the craftsmen and producers need to know regarding the new GIN system, which will come into force on 1 December 2025.
Detailed information was provided on the requirements that products must meet to be granted the GIN designation, how the evaluation will take place, and how it will be possible to challenge the registration of a product. The representatives of the LPO and the Ministry of Justice informed about the respective LPO duties.
Having addressed the members of the working group, Agris Batalauskis, the LPO director, emphasized that craftsmen and producers will not undertake required steps alone in the new registration process – the LPO and the EUIPO will provide them with the necessary support.
A discussion in an informal atmosphere followed the activities of the working group, and the attendees shared their experiences in protecting their products and obstacles they have encountered in the daily process related to product authenticity.
To establish uniform GI protection across the EU not only for agricultural products, but also for craft and industrial products, Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council was adopted on 18 October 2023, creating uniform protection in the EU. Accordingly, from 1 December 2025, craftsmen and producers in Latvia and throughout the EU will be able to apply for GI registration in order to protect their authentic and local products.