International registration of geographical indications
Article 2
1. Upon the accession of the Union to the Geneva Act and thereafter on a regular basis, the Commission shall, in its capacity as Competent Authority within the meaning of Article 3 of the Geneva Act, file applications for the international registration of geographical indications protected and registered under Union law and pertaining to products originating in the Union pursuant to Article 5(1) and (2) of the Geneva Act with the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (‘the International Bureau’). 2. For the purpose of paragraph 1, Member States may request the Commission to register in the International Register geographical indications that originate in their territory and that are protected and registered under Union law. Such requests shall be based on: (a) a request by a natural person or legal entity as referred to in point (ii) of Article 5(2) of the Geneva Act or by a beneficiary as defined in point (xvii) of Article 1 of the Geneva Act; or (b) their own initiative. 3. On the basis of such requests, the Commission shall adopt implementing acts listing the geographical indications referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 15(2).