Europe Begins Accepting Registration of Geographical Indications of Handicraft Products

JAKARTA: Starting December 1, 2025, the European Union will begin accepting applications for the registration of Geographical Indications (“GI”) for handicraft products. This development marks a significant expansion of GI registration, which has previously been limited to agricultural products, wine, and alcoholic beverages. 

The absence of a dedicated legal framework for handicrafts has long left many producers of handicraft products, particularly small-scale enterprises such as individual artisans and family-run businesses, vulnerable to imitation, counterfeiting, and unfair commercial practices.

Under the new regime, producers of traditional regional handicraft products will be able to rely on a specific legal instrument to protect their products across the European Union. This reform represents an important step toward strengthening legal protection for traditional craftsmanship and Europe’s cultural heritage.

Producers, including those from Indonesia, will be able to apply for GI registration for their industrial handicraft products, granting them the same legal status and level of protection currently afforded to agricultural products, wine, and alcoholic beverages. However, while Indonesia has significant potential to register its handicraft products as GIs in the European Union, implementation is expected to take place only in the coming years, as the relevant framework is anticipated to be ratified in 2026 and to enter into force in 2027.

The Director General of Intellectual Property, Hermansyah Siregar, has confirmed that Indonesia possesses a wide variety of handicraft products. According to national statistics, he said, there are currently 482 Indonesian handicraft products registered as GI, including traditional textiles, such as, tenun, songket, batik, and other traditional crafts reflecting the unique characteristics of their places of origin.

Nevertheless, registration of Indonesian handicraft products in the European Union will require patience due to the phased implementation of the new framework. Hermansyah has therefore encouraged producers to begin preparing early by ensuring consistent quality standards for handicraft products intended for registration in the European market. 

At present, Indonesia has only 4 (four) agricultural products registered as GI in the European Union through direct applications, namely, Gayo Arabica Coffee, Muntok White Pepper, Kulonprogo Palm Sugar, and Balinese Amed Salt. (JPK/SHJ/ANA-su)