On July 14, 2026, the Government of Italy deposited its instrument of ratification to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications (“Geneva Act”).
With this ratification, the Geneva Act now offers protection in 28 Contracting Parties covering up to 61 countries, while the Lisbon System covers up to 73 countries in total.
This ratification will allow Italy to protect both its appellations of origin and geographical indications under the Geneva Act, including those in the non-agricultural product category, such as the renowned VETRO DI MURANO (Murano glass) or MERLETTO DI BURANO (Burano lace), but also its renowned appellations of origin and geographical indications in the agricultural and food product categories, such as ASIAGO (cheese), GRANA PADANO (cheese) or PROSCIUTTO DI PALMA (ham), and those in the wine and spirits categories, such as PROSECCO (sparkling wine), CHIANTI (wine), GRAPPA (spirit), or LIQUORE DI LIMONE DI SORRENTO (spirit), to name only a few.
About the Geneva Act
The Geneva Act helps producers of quality products, linked to origin, to protect the distinctive designations of their products in multiple jurisdictions, either as appellations of origin or geographical indications, through a single application filed with WIPO, and the payment of one set of fees.
About the Lisbon System
The Lisbon System provides protection for names that identify the geographic origin of products such as coffee, tea, fruits, cheese, wine, pottery, glass and cloth.
Examples of appellations of origin and geographical indications
- Kampot Pepper (Cambodia)
- Comté (France)
- Tokaj (Hungary)
- Sarough Handmade Carpet (Iran)
- Tequila (Mexico)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Chulucanas (Peru)
- Banano de Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
- Grana Padano (Italy)
- Bohemia Crystal (Czech Republic)
- Figue de Djebba (Tunisia)