Thailand seeks EU protection for 75 geographical indications

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on whether to protect 75 geographical indications (GIs) from Thailand under the future EU–Thailand free trade agreement, giving interested parties two months to lodge objections. The notice, published in the Official Journal of the European Union (C series) on 1 September 2026, invites Member States, third countries and any natural or legal person with a legitimate interest to submit duly substantiated statements of opposition.

The Thai authorities have presented the list as a “second list” of GIs for protection under the future agreement, which includes a dedicated chapter on geographical indications. Of the 75 names, 47 relate to agricultural products. The Commission is assessing whether they qualify for protection as geographical indications within the meaning of Article 22(1) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).

What is being protected

The list covers a broad range of Thai products, from staple crops to processed goods, each identified by its Thai name, a Latin-alphabet transcription and a short product description. The agricultural GIs include rice, fruit, coffee, tea, spices and seafood.

• Rice varieties such as Khao Hom Ma Li Surin (Surin jasmine rice) and Khao Niao Khiao Ngu Chiang Rai (sticky rice)
• Fruit including mangoes, pomelos, tangerines, lychees, longans, mangosteens, bananas and pineapples
• Coffee from regions such as Ranong, Doi Musoe Tak and Wang Nam Khiao
• Seafood including Kung Mangkon Chet Si Phuket (Phuket lobster) and Pla Thu Mae Klong (Mae Klong mackerel)
• Other products such as Wai Khao Yai (Khao Yai wines), Lao Pae (spirits), salt, sugar and coconut

How to oppose protection

Statements of opposition must reach the Commission within two months of the date of publication of the notice, and should be sent to the e-mail address AGRI-G3@ec.europa.eu. They will be examined only if received within the deadline and if they demonstrate one of the grounds set out in the notice.

• The name would conflict with a plant variety or animal breed name and mislead consumers as to the true origin
• The name is wholly or partially homonymous with a name already protected in the Union under Regulation (EU) 2024/1143 or with a GI from a non-EU country protected under bilateral agreements
• Protection would mislead consumers given the reputation and renown of an existing trademark
• Protection would jeopardise an identical or partly identical name, a trademark, or products legally on the market for at least five years before publication
• The name is generic

The criteria are evaluated in relation to the territory of the Union, which for intellectual property rights refers only to the territories where those rights are protected.

What happens next

Any protection of these names in the Union remains conditional on the successful conclusion of the EU–Thailand negotiations and on a subsequent legal act. The consultation is therefore a procedural step in a wider trade process rather than a final decision.

For European producers and consumers, the outcome matters: recognising Thai GIs would give those names legal protection in the EU market, while the opposition window allows EU stakeholders to defend existing trademarks, homonymous names and products already on the market. The two-month deadline makes the consultation a time-sensitive opportunity for anyone with a legitimate interest to shape which Thai names gain EU-wide recognition.

Source: Official Journal of the European Union, C/2026/4715, 1 September 2026, C series, Information notice – public consultation (official reference: C/2026/4715).