Non-Food Geographical Indications in the European Union: Comparative Indicators, Cluster Typologies, and Policy Scenarios Under Regulation (EU) 2023/2411

Giovanni Peira (), Sergio Arnoldi and Alessandro Bonadonna
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Giovanni Peira: Department of Management, University of Turin, 10134 Torino, Italy
Sergio Arnoldi: Chamber of Commerce of Turin, 10123 Torino, Italy
Alessandro Bonadonna: Department of Management, University of Turin, 10134 Torino, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 20, 1-25

Abstract: Non-food geographical indications (GIs) are emerging as strategic policy instruments in the European Union after Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 extended protection to craft and industrial products. While the literature on agri-food GIs is extensive, empirical and comparative evidence on non-food GIs remains scarce and fragmented. This study addresses this gap by constructing a harmonised dataset, combining 132 registered and 380 potential non-food GIs identified by EUIPO (512 in total across the EU). Using secondary institutional data, descriptive and comparative statistics, and a hierarchical clustering (Ward, squared Euclidean distance) on normalised indicators total GIs, GIs per million inhabitants (GI/POP), and GIs per € billion of GDP (GI/GDP), the analysis identifies three country typologies differing by scale and intensity. Results reveal a strong geographical concentration in Southern Europe but also unexpectedly high intensity in smaller or mid-sized economies such as Portugal, Cyprus, and Slovenia. A forward-looking scenario analysis based on Cost of Non-Europe (CoNE) estimates suggests that the full implementation of the new Regulation could generate 284,000–338,000 new jobs and € 37–50 billion in additional intra-EU trade. The study contributes to EU policy debates by introducing comparative indicators (GI/POP, GI/GDP) as monitoring tools for evidence-based policymaking and by highlighting the role of non-food GIs as hybrid institutions connecting industrial competitiveness, cultural identity, and sustainability transitions.

Keywords: non-food geographical indications; EU Regulation 2023/2411; craft and industrial heritage; sustainability transitions; regional competitiveness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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