Hurleys to get EU legal protection

Hurleys, uilleann pipes, and Waterford Crystal could soon enjoy the same EU geo-legal protections currently available to the manufacturers of food items like Parma ham and Feta cheese.

A report by the European Parliament’s legal affairs committee has recommended the extension of existing geographical indication protections for food products, wines, and spirits to non-food items.

The European Commission has identified more than 800 products that could be suitable for such protection, including 16 from Ireland.