READING TIME: 3 min
The context: a historic turning point for made in Italy non-food
For decades, the system of Protected Geographical Indications in Europe has almost exclusively concerned the agri-food sector. Champagne, Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano: well-known examples of how a geographical origin can become a certified economic value defended at the community level.
But what was happening to Murano glass, Caltagirone ceramics, Como fabrics, or Burano lace? Until recently, nothing equivalent at the European level.
With Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, which came into force on 16 November 2023 and is applicable from 1 December 2025, the European Union has filled this gap by introducing the so-called non-agri PGIs — a protection system for geographical indications extended for the first time to craft and industrial products.
Italy has completed the transposition with Legislative Decree 2 April 2026, no. 51, published in the Official Gazette no. 93 on 22 April 2026. The entry into force is set for 7 May 2026.
What are non-agri PGIs and which products do they concern?
Protected Geographical Indications for craft and industrial products (CIGI – Craft and Industrial Geographical Indication) guarantee that a product originates from a specific place, region, or country, with at least one phase of production carried out in the geographical area of reference.
The sectors covered by the EU Regulation include, among others:
Glass objects, such as Murano glass
Ceramics and porcelain, including the productions of Caltagirone and Vietri sul Mare
Jewellery and articles in precious metals
Fabrics, laces and embroideries with territorial identity
Leather and leather goods
Musical instruments linked to local traditions
Wooden objects
The principle is the same as that already established in the agri-food sector: the geographical name becomes a protected asset, associated with certified quality and a verifiable production identity.
The framework of Legislative Decree 51/2026: how it works
The decree is structured into seven titles and 27 articles. Here are the main pillars.
Competent authority The Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) is identified as the national authority responsible for the Italian phase of the registration process. In practice, the function will be exercised by the General Directorate for Industrial Property – Italian Patent and Trademark Office (DGPI-UIBM).
The two-phase registration procedure
The registration of a non-agri PGI is structured on two levels:
National phase: producer associations submit applications via the UIBM online portal, attaching the production specification and the required documentation. The office verifies the admissibility, evaluates the application, manages any oppositions, and adopts the final decision.
European phase: if the national phase concludes positively, the DGPI-UIBM forwards the application to the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office), which proceeds with the final evaluation. The European Commission intervenes only in cases specifically provided for by the Regulation.
The result is a single registration valid in all 27 EU member states — eliminating the fragmentation of the previous system, where a producer had to register their geographical indication separately in each country.
Controls and monitoring The MIMIT-DGPU-UIBM is also the competent authority for compliance checks of products against the regulations, both before and after market entry, including e-commerce. Producers are subject to a self-declaration system for compliance verification.
Sanctions The decree introduces a specific sanctioning system at two levels:
Criminal: Article 517-quater of the penal code — which punishes the counterfeiting or alteration of geographical indications — is extended to artisanal and industrial products.
Administrative: specific sanctions for those who usurp a protected geographical name, evoke it in unregistered products, adopt misleading commercial practices, or violate compliance with the regulations.
The deadline not to be missed: December 2026
Those who already have national protection for a geographical indication of artisanal or industrial products must act promptly. According to Article 70 of Regulation (EU) 2023/2411, by 2 December 2026, pre-existing national protections will cease to be effective.
Pending applications at the national level that are not accompanied by a simultaneous request for EU registration will be considered not submitted.
For producer associations and businesses that have invested in territorial names, this window is not negligible.
Because this decree really matters
The introduction of non-agricultural PGIs is not a mere bureaucratic formality. It is the recognition that artisan know-how has a measurable economic value and deserves the same protective tools reserved for the food sector.
For Italy, a country with one of the highest concentrations of local productions with high identity value in Europe, the implications are concrete:
Protection against counterfeits: registered names cannot be imitated or evoked by unauthorised producers, even if accompanied by terms such as "type", "style" or "in the manner of".
Access to international markets: the European PGI mark is recognisable and respected in dozens of non-EU markets with which there are bilateral agreements.
Enhancement of local economies: non-agricultural PGIs contribute to maintaining skills, jobs, and know-how in the regions where the productions are rooted, also stimulating the tourism sector.
What to do now
If you are a producers' association, a craft business, an intellectual property consultancy, or simply an industry operator, the concrete steps are:
Check if your products fall within the scope of EU Regulation 2023/2411
Contact the UIBM or an industrial property specialist to assess the requirements for registration
Prepare the production specification and the required documentation
Act by December 2026 if you already have ongoing national protection
The UIBM online portal is the official access point for submitting applications.
Source: Official Gazette