Rules from 1 January 2021
The UK will set up its own geographical indication (GI) schemes. GI schemes provide a set of rules to protect the geographical names of food, drink and agricultural products. The UK schemes will fulfil its World Trade Organisation (WTO) obligations.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will:
- manage the UK schemes
- maintain the registers of protected product names
- process new applications
The UK schemes will protect the geographical names of:
- food, drink and agricultural products (including beer, cider and perry)
- spirit drinks
- wine
- aromatised wine
The new UK schemes will use these designations:
- Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)
- Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
- Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG)
Existing UK products
All existing UK products registered under EU GI schemes by the end of the transition period will remain protected in the UK under the UK GI schemes.
New product applications
If you want to protect a new product name, you’ll be able to apply to the relevant UK scheme. The schemes will be open to producers from the UK and other countries.
Use of UK GI logos on products and packaging
New UK GI logos will be available to identify products protected under the UK schemes from 1 January 2021.
Producers of UK food, drink and agricultural GI products registered before 1 January 2021 will have until 1 January 2024 to change packaging to display the new UK GI logos.
Producers of GI products that are protected in the EU can continue to use the EU logo in the UK after the transition period, if they choose to do so.
Protection of UK GIs in the EU
From 1 January 2021:
- all UK GIs registered under the EU GI schemes by the end of the transition period will continue to receive protection in the EU.
- new UK products seeking EU GI protection will need to secure protection under UK schemes first
Other EU protections
You can protect the intellectual property rights of your products in the EU by applying for either of the following:
International protection of UK GIs
From 1 January 2021, GI protection will continue for products currently named in:
- EU free trade agreements where the UK has signed a continuity agreement
- other EU third country sectoral agreements where the UK has signed a continuity agreement