• The event analyzes the current status of European geographical indications and possible regulations
• The European cookbook "Sensational!" highlights quality products such as Alicante nougat.

The quality policy of the European Union (EU) Protects the names of certain products from the continent to highlight their exclusive characteristics. Geographical indications (GIs) were created to promote this task. which according to the European Commission (EC) “ are those quality seals that protect the names of products that come from specific regions and have specific qualities or enjoy a reputation linked to the territory of production .”

Last January, the 2025 Geographical Indications Conference entitled “Safeguarding our heritage, cultivating our future” took place, organized by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain. This meeting brought together experts to discuss the current status of GIs for artisanal, industrial, and agri-food products, as well as to analyze current and future regulations. Several sessions were held on:

• Key areas : employment, development, tourism, etc.
• Recent reforms to the IG system.
• Life cycles and sustainability of these assets.

All these activities contributed to maintaining the ongoing commitment to protecting European culture and its products.

Types of geographical indications

Within GIs, the intellectual property of products is protected by different seals:

• Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) : focuses on the relationship between the geographical region and the name of the product (food, agricultural products and wine).

• Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) : These products have stronger links with the place where they are made, since at least the production, processing or preparation must take place in the region (food, agricultural products and wine).
• Geographical Indication (GI) : is specific to spirits originating in a specific country or region where the characteristics of the product are essentially of its origin.

Likewise, products that have been granted one of these quality labels or that are in the process of being recognized can be consulted in the public registry of geographical indications .

Alicante nougat: a Spanish and European brand

In this context, one of our most emblematic sweets stands out: Alicante nougat . This delicacy, inherited from Muslim culture, has earned the European PGI quality seal thanks to its unique characteristics:

• Slightly toasted flavor with nuances of rosemary and thyme provided by the honey.
• Its production is facilitated by Alicante's good climate, characterized by mild winters and warm summers.

In 2020, the Publications Office of the European Union published the open access cookbook "Sensational!" , which brings together quality-certified European products, recipes, and the stories and insights of the participating chefs. While turrón is a classic pastry, three-Michelin-starred chef Quique Dacosta has demonstrated its versatility by combining it with unexpected ingredients, such as Mediterranean duck prawns.