On May 28, 2026, the Government of Canada launched a public consultation on the scope of the geographical indications regime under the Trademarks Act. This consultation seeks feedback from stakeholders on how to improve and modernize Canada's geographical indications regime, including whether its scope should be expanded beyond currently protected product categories.

The consultation invites stakeholders to share their views on a range of practical issues, including the adoption of geographical indications by (domestic and foreign) producers, enforcement mechanisms, and the potential use of certification marks to promote products protected by geographical indications.

One of the central topics under discussion is whether geographical indication protection can extend beyond wines, spirits, agricultural products, and food to encompass new categories such as traditional handicrafts and industrial products. This proposed expansion would align Canada with other jurisdictions, particularly the European Union—where a brand-new framework allowing geographical indication registration for craft and industrial products officially entered into force on December 1, 2025. Notable products eligible for such protection include Limoges porcelain (Porcelaine de Limoges), which recently became the first craft and industrial product to receive geographical indication protection in the EU.

This marks the first time since 2017 that the Government of Canada has conducted a comprehensive review of its geographical indications regime. In 2017, Canada expanded the scope of geographical indication protection from wines and spirits to agricultural products and food. Therefore, this public consultation serves as a positive signal for producers and competent authorities seeking to protect and enforce their geographical indication rights in Canada.