Overview
- The reform takes effect in Germany on 16 January 2026, extending geographical indications beyond food and alcohol to cover handcraft and industrial products.
- An EUIPO study identifies 39 German candidate products and groups for protection, with porcelain especially prominent.
- Named examples include Meissen, Berlin, Dresden, Nymphenburg and Hutschenreuther porcelain, Wetzlar optics, Ravensburger games, Kölnisch Wasser, Erzgebirge woodcraft and Mittenwald violins.
- Regional candidates from Saxony and Thuringia include Glashütte watches, Lauscha glass, Jena glass, Plauen lace, Sebnitz artificial flowers, Vogtland musical instruments and Freiberger precision mechanics.
- DPMA president Eva Schewior says protected origin labels help preserve traditional know‑how, increase value creation and secure local jobs.