On 22 April 2026, the Italian Official Gazette published Legislative Decree No. 51, marking the full establishment of the protection system for geographical indications (IGP) for Italian handicraft and industrial products. The decree entered into force on 7 May 2026.
As a country with numerous products featuring regional characteristics in the handicraft and industrial sectors, Italy, through this legislation, has achieved precise alignment of its national regulations with EU rules, safeguarding the export of its local characteristic industries.
1. Competent Authority
The decree designates the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy as the national competent authority for the national phase; Its subordinate body, the Italian Patent and Trademark Office, is specifically responsible for the entire process of geographical indication registration, examination, opposition, control, etc.
2. Registration Procedure
·National Phase
The applicant (producer association or eligible individual producer) shall submit an application for registration, including the product specification, single document and supporting documents. The Italian Patent and Trademark Office shall examine compliance and seek opinions from the regional governments of the production area. The process may proceed if no objections are raised within 45 days. Upon approval, the application shall be published for a two‑month period for opposition proceedings. After the opposition process is completed, a favourable decision shall be issued and submitted to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO).
·EU Phase
The EUIPO conducts the final examination and, if approved, grants EU-wide protection for the geographical indication.
·Temporary Protection
After approval at the national phase, the applicant may apply for national temporary protection, marking "national temporary protected geographical indication". The EU symbol may only be used after EU registration.
3. Transition for Existing Names
Applicants of legally used and reputed geographical indication names must submit an application to the Italian Patent and Trademark Office within 90 days of the entry into force of the decree (i.e. by 5 August 2026). After passing the national examination, the Italian Patent and Trademark Office will report the names to the European Commission and EUIPO by 2 December 2026.
4. Monitoring, Control and Sanctions
·Producer Responsibility
Compliance monitoring for handicraft and industrial product geographical indications (IGP) is based on the producer's self-declaration; the producer bears primary responsibility for conformity with the product specification and must retain traceability evidence.
·Monitoring Body
The Italian Patent and Trademark Office is responsible for official inspections and market monitoring (including e-commerce platforms), may delegate certain control functions to certification bodies, and authorises the Financial Police to carry out inspections and investigations.
·Administrative Sanctions
The decree sets administrative fines ranging from EUR 500 to EUR 24,000 for acts such as counterfeiting, false indications, misuse of geographical indications, and circulation of non-compliant products. In serious cases, the use of the geographical indication is prohibited, and a further EUR 12,000 fine applies for non-compliance with such prohibition.
Source: https://uibm.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/igp-non-agri-pubblicato-in-gazzetta-ufficiale-il-decreto-legislativo-di-adeguamento-al-regolamento-ue-2023-2411
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