Geographical indications of origin are the names of places, regions, areas or countries as well as other indications or signs used in the commercial trade to identify the geographical origin of goods or services.

Geographical indications of origin referring to agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits include geographical indications for wine, spirits and agricultural products and guaranteed traditional specialities and optional quality indications for agricultural products and are intended to help producers of agricultural products and foodstuffs to inform buyers and consumers about the product characteristics and farming characteristics of these products and foodstuffs. The protection of these geographical indications of origin is regulated in Germany in the Trademark Act (§126 et seq.), where EU Regulation 2024/1143 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 has been implemented.

These protected geographical indications of origin are registered in the EU register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications ("EU quality register") managed by the EU Commission and can be searched in the EU database of geographical indications for foodstuffs and agricultural products, wines, spirits and aromatised wines eAmbrosia (external link).

We would be happy to support you in applying for protection of origin; please contact us.

It is expected that protection for geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products will also be available from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) from 1 December 2025. A regulation on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products is due to enter into force on 1 December 2025 and is currently still in draft form. It is intended, among other things, to regulate the protection of certain names designating artisanal and industrial products whose quality, reputation or other characteristics derive from their geographical origin. The following products are mentioned here as examples: Natural stone, timber products, jewellery, textiles, lace, cutlery, glass, porcelain, hides and skins.

If you are interested in such protection, please contact us.

Protected designation of origin (PDO)

A protected designation of origin (PDO) is awarded to products (agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits) that are produced, processed and prepared in a specific geographical area according to a recognised and established procedure.

Agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits that can be labelled with a protected designation of origin may be marked with the Community logo shown shown here in the picture.

Protected geographical indication (PGI)

Products (agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits) may be labelled with a protected geographical indication (PGI) if one of the stages of production, processing or preparation takes place in a specific region of origin.

Agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits that are eligible for a protected geographical indication may be labelled with the Community logo shown here in the picture.

Traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG)

The protected indications for agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits regulated in EU Regulation 2024/1143 also include the category of traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG), which, however, has no geographical origin function, but rather designates a traditional composition or a traditional production process of a product.

Agricultural products, foodstuffs and spirits that may be labelled with the protected indication ‘traditional speciality guaranteed’ may bear the Community logo shown here in the picture.