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From December 1, 2025, unique Hungarian handicraft and industrial products will be eligible for EU geographical indication protection. This means that Hungarians’ pride and joy, such as the Halas lace, the crystal products from Ajka or Herend porcelain, can be protected throughout Europe, since the regulation has entered into force, the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office said in a statement.
The regulation on the protection of geographical indications of handicraft and industrial products entered into force on November 16, 2023, following its publication on the official website of the European Union, reports Magyar Nemzet. This is a decisive step forward in the protection of handicraft and industrial product names, rooted in the authenticity and traditional skills of the regions.
Under the regulation, from December 1, 2025, it will be possible to protect handicraft and industrial products whose production is closely linked to specific geographical areas in the EU, in addition to agricultural products.
This means that products such as Herend porcelain, Halas lace, Ajka crystal, Murano glass, Carrara marble, or Solingen steel will be protected as EU geographical indications.
Halas lace has a tradition of more than 100 years in Kiskunhalas, Bács-Kiskun County. The unique technique of needle lace is passed down from generation to generation. Photo: Facebook/Halasi Csipke
The Ajka Crystal factory was founded in 1878 in Ajka (western Hungary, Veszprém County), and the factory has a glassmaking tradition going back hundreds of years. It is one of Hungary’s most internationally renowned glass manufacturers. Photo: Facebook/Ajka Crystal
The lack of uniform protection has meant that the protection of handicraft and industrial geographical indications has varied across the EU, with producers having to rely on national rules in each Member State and seek different legal options to protect their product names against infringement.
The new regulation recognizes this divergence and provides a harmonized framework for the protection of the names of EU handicraft and industrial products, as well as the possibility of uniform protection in the EU for names of products from non-EU countries.
Founded in Herend (western Hungary, Veszprém County), Herend Porcelain Manufactory is the oldest and largest porcelain producer in Hungary. It is one of the most important factories in Europe today. At Herend, all porcelain decorations are still applied by hand, making each piece unique. Photo: Facebook/Nemzeti Múzeum
“From December 1, 2025, protection of handicraft and industrial names that meet the necessary requirements can be applied for by means of a single application for a geographical indication covering all Member States. Producers in Hungary will have to apply to the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office and will then be examined by the EU Intellectual Property Office. Producers of handicraft and industrial products identified by a registered geographical indication can use the official symbol of the protected geographical indication on their products. This logo will allow customers to identify handicraft and industrial products by the specific characteristics linked to their geographical origin, so that they can make an informed choice when purchasing these products,” said Szabolcs Farkas, President of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office.
Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image: Facebook/Black Crystal