indications, which are a type of intellectual property right, help operators and businesses to enhance the value of their intangible assets22. EU quality policy must contribute to the transition to a sustainable food system and respond to society’s demands for sustainable, environmentally and climate-friendly production methods that guarantee animal welfare, are resourceefficient and socially and ethically responsible. Producers should be committed to adhering to sustainable practices that encompass environmental, social and economic objectives that go beyond mandatory standards. These practices could be set out in specifications or a separate initiative (and cover at least one type of sustainability: environmental, social or economic)23. The regulation aims to grant protection to names entered in the Union register of geographical indications in order to ensure their fair use and prevent practices that could mislead consumers24. These products are listed in registers of geographical indications, which also contain information on the geographical characteristics and specifications of each product25. In practical terms, the use of a geographical indication in the sales description of a processed product must specify the conditions relating to the qualities that the geographical name attributes to the processed product of which it is an ingredient. For pre-packaged foodstuffs, producers must inform the recognised producer group before using a geographical indication on a pre-packaged food product26. The new regulation on GIs for wine, spirits and agricultural products, as well as on traditional specialities guaranteed and optional quality terms for agricultural products, strengthens and improves the existing geographical indication (GI) system by: - introducing a single legal framework and a simplified and shortened registration procedure: the different rules on procedures and protection of GIs are merged for the three sectors (foodstuffs, wines and spirits), resulting in a simplified and single GI registration procedure; - strengthening the protection of GIs used as ingredients and sold online: the new rules strengthen the protection of GIs used as ingredients in processed 22 EU Regulation 2024/1142, Recital 21. 23 EU Regulation 2024/1142, Recital 23. 24 EU Regulation 2024/1142, Recital 33. 25 Geographical indications for which an application has been filed and which are entered in the Union registers can be consulted in the eAmbrosia database (official database of EU geographical indication registers). EU geographical indications and geographical indications from non-EU countries protected under agreements can be consulted on the GIview portal. 26 EU Regulation 2024/1142, Recital 36. 373 LAW AND GASTRONOMY IN LIGHT OF REGULATION (EU) 2024/1143
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