EU Grants Geographical Indication to Portugal’s Olaria Negra de Bisalhães

The traditional black pottery of Bisalhães (Olaria Negra de Bisalhães) has been entered into the European Union’s register of geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products. The registration, issued by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), will take effect on 17 December 2025 and provides legal protection for the craft, linking its quality and reputation to its place of origin.

The craft, listed by UNESCO in 2016 as intangible cultural heritage in urgent need of safeguarding, dates back to at least the 16th century. It involves a demanding process of shaping, treating, and firing clay in open earth ovens, which gives the pieces their characteristic black colour. The tradition was once at risk of extinction, with only a few potters remaining, but the new designation is expected to support training, attract new artisans, and preserve the cultural identity of the Vila Real municipality in northern Portugal.