ACT ON 
GEOGRAPHICAL 
INDICATIONS  AND 
DESIGNATIONS   OF 
ORIGIN  
OF PRODUCTS 
AND  SERVICES  
 
 
And 
 
 
ACT AMENDING  AND SUPPLEMENTING  THE 
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS  AND 
DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN OF PRODUCTS  AND 
SERVICES  ACT*/**/***  
 
 
NN 173/2003, in force from January 1, 2004  
*NN 76/2007, in force from J uly 31, 2007 
**NN 49/2011, in for ce from May 7, 2011  
***NN 46/2018, in for ce from May 26, 2018  
  
Zagreb May, 2018 Act on Geographical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/**/***  
2 May 2018   
  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODU CTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/**/***  
May, 2018  3  
 specific  quality,  reputation  or other 
chara cteristic  attribu table to that 
  
I. GENE RAL PROVISIONS  
 
SUBJECT  MATTER  OF THE ACT 
Article 1  
(1) This   Act   regulat es   the   manner   of 
acquisit ion, the system of prote ction and 
the exerc ise of  the right to use a 
geographical indication  and a designation 
of origin  of products and services. 
 
(2) The provisio ns of this Act shall not apply  to 
products and services in su ch part in which 
the system of protect ion and the exercise 
of rights to use a geographical indication 
and a designation of origin are gover ned 
by special regulatio ns. 
 
 
GEOGRAPHICAL  INDICATION 
Article 2  
(1) Geographical  indicatio n is the name  of a 
region, a specific  place o r, in except ional 
cases, of  a country, used to describe 
products  or  services  originating  in  that 
region,  place or countr y, and possessing  a 
 
 
geographical origin  and the  production 
and/or  processing and/or preparat ion of 
which take place in the specific 
geographical  area.  
 
(2) Any other indication  identifying  a product 
or a servi ce originatin g in a certain 
geographical  area shall be a geograph ical 
indicatio n, if it fulfils the requirements 
referred to in  paragraph (1) of this Artic le. 
 
 
DESIGNA TION OF ORIGIN 
Article 3  
(1) Designation  of origin  shall be the name  of 
a region, a specific  place or,  in except ional 
cases, a coun try, used to indicate prod ucts 
or services  originating  in that region, the 
specific  place or country,  and the quality or 
chara cteristic s of which  are essent ially or 
exclusiv ely due to a p articular geograph ical 
environment  with its inherent natural  and 
human fact ors, and the product ion, 
processing   and   preparation   of   which 
entirely  take place in that spe cific 
geographical  area.  
 
(2) Designation   of   origin   shall   also   be 
conside red a name, which is n ot the 
administ rative  geograph ical  name  of  a specific  country, of a region  or a place and 
which,  due to its long-term use in trade, 
has  become  the  common  name  of  a 
product orig inating in t hat area, if it fulfils 
the require ments referred to  in parag raph 
(1) of th is Article. 
 
 
TRADITIONAL  NAMES  
Article 4  
Tradit ional geographical or  non-geographical 
names  used to  identify a  product  or a service 
originating  in a region  or a specific place may be 
registered  as designat ions of origin, where such a 
product  or service  fulfils the requirements 
provided for  under Articles 3 and 5 of t his Act.  
 
 
ORIGIN OF RAW MATERIALS  
Article 5  
In exceptional  cases,  a product  may be protected 
by a designation of origin where the designat ion 
has an established traditional cha racteristic, 
except ional  reputat ion and  renown,  where  the 
raw materials for  the production  of this product 
originate from a region wider than or different 
from the p rocessing ar ea, provided that  the 
productio n area of the raw materia ls is limited, 
that spec ial conditio ns for the  product ion of the 
raw materials exist, and that  the system  of 
inspect ion exists to ensu re that  those conditio ns 
are adhe red to. 
 
 
FORM  
Article 6  
(1) A     geogra phical     indication     and     a 
designat ion of  origin  may be  in a verbal 
form,  and  a  geographical  indicat ion  of 
origin may as well be in a figurative fo rm. 
 
(2) A     geogra phical     indication     and     a 
designat ion of  origin  in verbal  form may 
contain  one word or  a group  of words 
corres ponding to the name of a specific 
geographical area,  includin g it or referring 
to it. 
 
(3) A  geographi cal  indicat ion  in  a  figurative 
form may be a cartograph ic representat ion 
or any   other   symbolic   represe ntation 
indicating t hat a produ ct or a ser vice 
originates in  a specific geographical area.  Act on Geographical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/**/***  
4 May 2018   
  
EXCLUS ION FROM  PROT ECTION  
Article 7  
A geographical  indication and  a designation of 
origin  may not grant  protection to the name  of 
the place  of origin of a pr oduct or a  service: 
 
1.   if it creates  confus ion in the public  as 
to the geographical  origin  of products 
or services;  
 
2.   if  it suggests  that the relevant product 
or service originates in a geographical 
area other than the true p lace of origin 
in a manner misleading  the public  as to 
the geog raphical origin the reof; 
 
3.   if it may, by its ap pearan ce or contents 
create conf usion in trade in respe ct of 
the kind, origin, qualit y, manner of 
production or other characteristics of 
the produc ts or servic es; 
 
4.  if it has, due to its lon g-term use in 
everyday speech, lost its geographical 
meaning and has beco me a generic 
name  
 
5.   if it is identical with the name  of a 
plant  variety  or  an  animal  breed, 
where  it would  mislead the public  as to 
the geograp hical origin  of a product  or 
a servi ce; 
 
6.  if  it is contrary to public order and 
morality;  
 
7.  if it has not been prote cted or is no 
longer  protected, or  has fallen  into 
disuse in the  country of  origin. 
 
 
GENERIC  NAMES  
Article 8  
(1) A  generic  name  means  the  name  of  a 
product  or a service,  which has become a 
common name of that product or service, 
although  it relates to the place where  the 
product  or service  was originally  produced 
or put on t he marke t. 
 
(2) The name  of the place of origin  protected 
by a geographical  indication  may not 
become a  generic  name during the period 
of prote ction defined by this Act . 
 
(3) To establis h whether  or not a name  has 
become generic pursuant  to paragraph (1) 
of this Article  account  shall be taken  of all 
the factors, in particular the ex isting 
situation  in the geographical area in which  that name o riginated  and in  the areas of 
consum ption of the produ ct. 
 
 
HOMONYMS  
Article 9  
(1) Where  the names  of two or more places of 
origin  of products or ser vices are  identical 
or almost identical in writ ing (homon yms), 
the   protect ion   of   such   names   by   a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin  shall be granted  to all the interested 
parties    co mplying  with the requirements 
provided  for by  this Act, and in the manner 
provided for by the Regulat ions on 
geographical  indicat ions and designations 
of  origin  of  product s  and  services 
governing  the implementation of  this Act 
(hereinaf ter referred  to as: the 
Regulat ions), in accordance with the 
principles of equitable treatment of 
producers  on  the  marke t,  truthful 
informing  of  consume rs,  and  doing 
business in good faith . 
 
(2) The  user  of  a  homon ym  shall  provide 
sufficient  informat ion on the  label or 
packaging  material  regarding  the  true 
origin  of the product,  so as  to differe ntiate 
one homon ym from another, and  not to 
mislead the public.  
 
 
DOMES TIC AND FOREIGN PER SONS 
Article 10  
(1) The rights  and obligations  provided  under 
this Act shall refer to domestic  legal and 
natural  persons,  and to foreign  legal and 
natural  persons,  with  hereby  provided 
limitatio ns for foreign persons.  
 
(2) Foreign  persons  may apply  for protection 
of a    geographical    indication    or    a 
designat ion of  origin and  the entry of 
author ised   use rs,   if   they   have   been 
granted such rights  in the country of or igin 
and if they comply with the requirements 
defined in this Act.  
 
(3) The  term  “country  of  origin”  for  the 
purpose of  this Act shall cover likewise the 
regional  system    under    which    the 
registration  of  a  geographical  indication 
and a designation of  origin have been 
carried out for products  originating  in the 
territory of  one or se veral Member States.  
 
(4) A  foreign  person  may  use  the  rights 
referred to in paragraph  (2) of this Article  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODU CTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/**/***  
May, 2018  5  
  
when  emanating  from bilate ral or 
internat ional treati es on mutual protection 
of  geogra phical  indica tions  that  the 
Republic  of Croat ia has concluded or 
ratified.  
 
 
II. PROT ECTION GRANTING 
PROCEDURE  
 
COMMON PROVISIONS 
Article 11  
(1) The   legal   protect ion   of   geograph ical 
indications and designations of origin  of 
products  and services shall be establish ed 
in the admin istrative  procedure carried out 
by  the  State  Intellectual  Property  Office  
(hereinafter:  the Office).  
 
(2) The  decision  issued  in  the  procedure 
referred to in paragraph  (1) of this Article 
shall be fina l, and no ap peal may be f iled 
against  these,  but  an  administ rative 
lawsu it may be initiate d. 
 
 
MANNER  OF GRANTING  PROTECTION  
Article 12  
(1) The  protection  of  the  name  or  other 
indication of  the place of origin of products 
or services by  a geographical  indication 
shall be established  by the entry in the 
Register of geographical indications.  
 
(2) The protection of the name of the place of 
origin  of   products   or   services   by   a 
designat ion of origin  shall be established 
by the entry in the Reg ister of designat ions 
of origin.  
 
 
PERSONS  ENTITLED  TO FILE AN 
APPLICATION  
Article 13  
The followi ng shall have  the right to file an 
application for the entry of a geographical 
indication or a  designation of origin into the 
register:  
 
1.   Association of  producers a nd/or proc essors of 
a specific p roduct or providers of se rvices, 
irrespective  of the legal status the reof; 
 
2. Individual  producer  and/or  processor, 
irrespective  of whether a natural person or a 
legal person,  only in the case:  
 
− where  he is, at the time of filing of such 
an applicat ion, the sole producer  or 
proce ssor of the product  or provider  of the service  in respe ct of which he is 
applying  for the registration  of a 
geographical  indication  or a designat ion 
of origin,  
 
− where  he is the only to use original and 
unchangeable local pro cedures,  and 
 
− where    a    geograph ical    area    has 
chara cteristic s which sig nificantly differ 
from the character istics of neighbouring 
areas and/or where  character istics of 
products differ;  
 
3.   Bodies  of local and regional  self-government, 
chambers a nd institut ions interested  in the 
protect ion of geographi cal indicatio ns or 
designat ions of origin within  the sco pe and 
territory of  their activities.  
 
 
REPRESENTATION  OF FOREIGN  PERSONS  
Article 14  
(1) Foreign  legal  and  natural  perso ns  not 
having a pr incipal place of business, a 
domicile  or a habitual  residence  on the 
territory  of  the Republic  of Croatia may 
initiate  actions before the  Office solely 
through  authorised age nts entered in  the 
specific register with the O ffice. 
 
(2) The  provision  of  parag raph  (1)  of  this 
Article  shall apply  also to the nationals of 
the Republic of Croatia not having a 
domicile  or a habitual  residence  on the 
territory of  the Republic of  Croat ia. 
 
 
RIGHT OF USE 
 
HOLDERS  OF THE RIGHT OF USE 
Article 15  
Persons complying with all the req uirements 
provided for under this Act and who have been 
entered  in the releva nt Register  of use rs may use 
a  protected  geographical  indicat ion  or  a 
protected designation  of origin. 
 
 
PROTECTION  OF GEOGRAPHICAL 
INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNA TIONS OF 
ORIGIN 
Article 16  
(1) Registered  geographical  indications  and 
designat ions of  origin  shall be protected 
against: 
 
1.   The use by a person not performing 
the required activity and who  has not 
been enter ed in the relevant register;  Act on Geographical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/**/***  
6 May 2018   
  
2.   Any  use  to  identify  products  and 
services  the quality,  reputation  or any 
other cha racteristic of which is of a 
lower  quality than that  entered  in the 
register  in respect of  the protec ted 
indication;  
 
3.   Any   use   to   identify   products   or 
services whi ch are not covered by the 
registratio n, but which are of  the same 
kind as the products and services 
covered by the regist ration;  
 
4. Any  use of false or misleading 
informat ion  as  regards  the 
geographical  origin,  nature or quality 
of a produ ct or a service on the 
packaging, advertising materia ls, or 
other docum ents, suggesting  a relation 
between t he product or s ervice and the 
protected name;  
 
5.  Any use, though entirely authe ntic as 
regards the name of the territor y, 
region  or place in which a product or  a 
service  originates,   misleading   the 
public that the product or the servi ce 
originate f rom anot her area; 
 
6. Any    use    of    translat ion    or 
translit eration,   even   w here   a   true 
origin  of   products   or   servic es   is 
indicated, and  any use of the  protected 
name,  which  is  accompanied  by  a 
term:   “style”,    “type”,    “manner ”, 
“according  to   process”,   “method”, 
“produced in ”, “imitat ion”, and the like;  
 
7.   Any other practice  liable to  mislead the 
public  as to the geograph ical origin  of 
a product  or a servi ce. 
 
(1) The prohibit ion referred to in parag raph 
(1) of this Article  shall not apply  to the use 
of the name being  a part of a company’s 
name,  except where  such name  is used 
with the  aim to misle ad the public.  
 
 
RELATION  TO TRADEMARKS  
Article 17  
(1) A trademark  for which  an application  has 
been filed or it has been registered or used 
in good faith before  the filing of a request  
for the entry of a geographical  indication 
or a designation  of origin,  and which is 
used to identify  products  and serv ices 
identical with or  of the same  kind as a 
protected  geographical  indication  or a 
designat ion of origin  may continue  its use, and shall not be invalidated  for containing 
a geographi cal indication in its na me. 
 
(2) A trademark  consisting  of or containi ng a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin,  and applying  to products  or serv ices 
not originat ing from the indicated area, 
shall be invalidate d, if the use of such 
indicatio ns is liable  to mislead  the public as 
to the tr ue origin of a pro duct or a  service. 
 
(3) The   invalidation   procedure   shall   be 
instituted  ex officio, or at a request of an 
interested perso n. 
 
 
INDICATION  OF THE RIGHT OF USE 
Article 18  
A user of a geographi cal indication  is entitled  to 
add to a protected  name  the encircled sign  “GO” 
for  a  geographical  indication,  or  the  encircled 
sign “I” for a  designat ion of origin.  
 
 
III. ENTRY  PROCEDURE  
 
REGISTERS  
Article 19  
(1) The Office  shall keep a register  of filed 
applicatio ns for  the protection of 
geographical indications, and  a register of 
protected  geogra phical       indications  
acquired  pursuant  to the provisio ns of this 
Act. 
 
(2) The Office  shall keep a register  of filed 
applicatio ns for the protection of 
designat ions of origin  and a register  of 
protected designat ions of origin  acquired 
pursuant  to the provis ions of this A ct. 
 
(3) An entry in the register  shall be made  in 
the  Croatian  language,  and  a  foreign 
person  shall   attach   to   the   certified 
translation  in  the  Croatian  language  a 
public document in the of ficial language of 
the coun try of origin.  
 
(4) Informat ion for the entry in the register 
shall be prov ided for in the Regulat ions. 
 
(5) The registe rs referred to in parag raphs (1) 
and (2) of  this Article sha ll be public  and 
available  for inspect ion to any interested 
person free of any spec ial fees  or charges.  
 
(6) Any  interested  person  may  request  the 
Office  for a printout or  an excerpt  from the 
register  subject to the payment  of the 
prescribed f ees. May, 2018  7 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/**/***  
INSTITUTION  OF ENTRY  PROCEDU RE request  and  any  producer,  or  provider  of  
 Article 20  
(1) The   procedure   for   the   entry   of   a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin  of  products  or  services  in  the 
register  shall be instituted  upon a written 
application  with a specific request.  
 
(2) A request  contained  in the application  may 
refer to the protect ion of  only one 
geographical indication  or designation  of 
origin,   relating   to   only   one   type   of 
products  or service s. 
 
(3) The applicat ion shall be filed to the Office 
in the form p rovided for in  the Regu lations.  
 
(4) If  an  application  has  been  filed  by  a 
facsimile,  the applicant s hall file its original 
not later than within  15 days  as from the 
filing made  by a fa csimile.  
 
 
APPLICATION  
Article 21  
An applicat ion for the e ntry of a geographical 
indication  or  a  designation  of  origin  in  the 
register  shall contain the following:  
 
1.  A request for the entry of  a geographical 
indication or a  designation  of origin in  the 
register;  
 
2.   A specification (descriptio n); 
 
3. The  evidenc e on the protection  of a 
geographical indication  or a designat ion of 
origin  in the form  of a true copy of  a public 
document  or other  legal document  in the 
official lang uage of the co untry of origin or a 
certified  translat ion    into    the    Croatian 
language, if the applicant is a fo reign person;  
 
4.   The  evidence  of the effected  payment  of the 
administ rative fee and pr ocedural char ges; 
 
5. A power of attorne y, if the applicant is 
represe nted by an autho rised represe ntative 
or an a uthorised per son; 
 
6. A  signature of the applicant, or his 
represe ntative, or t he authorised pe rson. 
 
 
REQUEST  FOR ENTRY  IN THE REGISTER  
Article 22  
A request f or the ent ry of a geographical 
indication  or  a  designation  of  origin  in  the 
register  shall contai n: 
 
1.  Data ide ntifying the appli cant, includi ng the 
data   identif ying   the   associat ion   filing   a services belonging to that assoc iation;  
 
2.   A  geographical  indication  or a designation  of 
origin intended to be protected;  
 
3.  Data identify ing the kind of a product or a 
service  to be  designated  by a certain 
geographical  name or  any other indica tion; 
 
4.   The   evidence   of   the   right   to   file   an 
applicatio n,  if  the  applicant  is  a  natural 
person refer red to in Article 13, paragraph 1, 
item 2 of th is Act;  
 
5. A  short summary  of the description, 
corres ponding to the  content of the a ttached 
specification  referred to in Article  21 of this 
Act; 
 
6.   The data concerning  the represen tative, or 
the aut horised perso n, if any;  
 
7. A  signature  of the applicant,  or the 
represe ntative, or t he authorised pe rson. 
 
 
SPECIFICA TION OF GEOGRAPHICAL 
INDICATION 
Article 23  
(1) The    specif ication    of   a    geograp hical 
indication  shall contain t he following:  
 
1.   The n ame of  a product  or a servi ce; 
 
2.   Special  characteristics,  with  detailed 
and profess ional description, indicating 
that the products  or se rvices have a 
special quality,  reputation or ot her 
special c haracteristic s; 
 
3.   Precise  identification  of a geographical 
region to  which a request  relates;  
 
4.   Other  data indicating  that the produc ts 
or services have  a special quality, 
reputat ion or  other special 
chara cteristics; 
 
(2) The  specification  may  also  contain  data 
concerning special  characteristic s of raw 
materia ls or informat ion on a special 
manner  to use products  or services, and 
other information  conside red necessary by 
the applicant to certify th at the indications 
given in the application in fact concern the 
products  and services of a special quality, 
reputat ion or  any other special 
chara cteristics. 
 
(3) The  specification  shall  give  a  clear  and 
complete description  of all the  indications 
showing  the    link    between    special 8 May 2018  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/**/***   
  
chara cteristic s of p roducts and services for 
which geog raphical indicat ion is requested 
and the geographical area in which they 
originate.  
 
(4) If the same  geographical  indication  is used 
to identify several  different produ cts or 
services,  a specification  shall be submitted 
for each p roduct or service sepa rately. 
 
 
SPECIFICA TION OF DESIGNAT ION OF 
ORIGIN 
Article 24  
The specific ation of a designation  of origin  shall 
contain the following:  
 
1.   The n ame of  the product  or service;  
 
2. A descript ion of the  product or service, 
including the raw material, clearly indi cating 
that the spec ific quality  and character istics of 
a product   or   a   service   exclusive ly   or 
decisively developed un der the influence of 
special  natural  and  human  factors  of  a 
specific geog raphical ar ea. 
 
3.  A definition of the geog raphical area and a 
definition of the  area from which t he raw 
materia ls may originate  if different  from the 
processing area,  and in the latter case the 
evidence  that the requir ements  under  Article  
5 of this A ct have been complied with;  
 
4.   A  descript ion of the method for obtaini ng the 
product  and,  if  appropriate,  the  aut hentic 
and unvaryi ng local met hods; 
 
5.   Specialties  in  providing  services  related  to 
the geog raphical area.  
 
 
PROCEDURE  CONC ERNING  THE 
ENTRY  OF USERS  IN THE  REGISTER  
 
APPLICATION  
Article 25  
(1) The  procedure  concerni ng  the  entry  of 
users of a geographical indication  or a 
designat ion of origin  in the register  shall 
be initiated  by filing an application  for the 
entry of the right of use. This  application 
may be filed by  a person likewise  filing an 
application for the entry into the register  of 
geographical indications or designations of 
origin  referred to in Article  13 of this Act. 
If  an  associat ion  of  producers  or 
processo rs is the  applicant for  the entry of 
the rights  of use, the application  shall be 
filed  on  behalf  of  the  members  of  this assoc iation.  In  the  case  referred  to  in 
Article  13, paragraph  (1), item 3, the 
process  for the entry in the regist er of the 
right of use may  be instituted  by producers 
or proce ssors of go ods or per sons 
performing services to which geograph ical 
indicatio ns or designat ions of origin  apply, 
provided  they  comp ly  with  the 
requirements  referred to in this Act and 
the Regu lations.  
 
(2) An application  for the entry of the right of 
use a   geographical   indication   or   a 
designat ion of  origin  in the register sh all 
contain the following:  
 
1.   A  request for the entry of the right of 
use of a  geographical i ndication or a 
designat ion of origin in the register;  
 
2.   Evidence   of   performing   a   specific 
activity;  
 
3.   Evidence  provided  by  the  applicant 
that he has entrusted a  competen t 
inspect ion authority  or any  other 
professional body with regular  control 
of  complian ce  with  the  requiremen ts 
for the right of use of a geographic al 
indication as laid down in Article 23, or 
the right to use a d esignat ion of origin, 
as laid down i n Article 24 of this Act.  
 
4.  Evidence  provided  by the compet ent 
inspect ion authority  or any  other 
professional body regarding the control of product s or services carried out in 
the manner  laid down  in Article  23 of 
this Act, for the entry of the right of 
use of the protected geographical 
indicatio n,  or  in  Article  24,  for  the 
entry of the right of use  of the 
protected designat ion of origin in the 
register;  
 
5.   Other  information provided  for by the 
Regulat ions. 
 
 
REQUEST  FOR THE ENTRY  OF 
THE RIGHT  OF USE IN THE REGISTER  
Article 26  
A request for the entry of the  right of use of a 
geographical indication  or a designat ion of origin 
in the register shall co ntain: 
 
1.   Informat ion identifying the applicant;  
 
2.   The name of a product  or a service  for which 
the entry is sought;  
 
3.   Evidence of  the payment  of fees, or charges;  May, 2018  9 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Products and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/** /*** 
4.   A signature  of the applicant,  or the to  ma ke  observatio ns on the mentioned  
 represe ntative or the  authorised pe rson. 
 
 
IV. PROC EDURE FOR EXAMINATION 
OF AN APPLICATION 
 
FORMAL  EXAMINATION  
Article 27  
(1) The    Office    shall    carry    out    formal 
exami nation of  the correctness  of the  filed 
application  in order  to establish  whether 
the require ments, provided  for in Articles  
21 to 26 of this Act have been complied 
with. 
 
(2) If    the    Office    establishes    that    the 
application is not correct, it shall deliver to 
the applicant   the   examination   results 
containing  reasons owing to which the 
application may not be considered  correct, 
and invite  him to remedy the deficie ncies 
within the ti me limit of 30 days.  
 
(3) At a reasoned request  of the applican t, the 
Office  may extend  the time limit referred 
to in paragraph (2) of this Article, wh ich 
shall not exceed six months as from the 
first invitation  to corre ct. 
 
(4) If   the   applicant   fails   to   remedy   the 
application  or fails to pay the prescribed 
fee and cha rges within t he provided time 
limit, the Office  shall issue a decision  on 
the rejection of  the application  for the 
protect ion of a geographical indicat ion or  a 
designat ion of origin, or t he applicat ion for 
the entry of the right of use of a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin.  
 
 
SUBSTANTIVE  EXAMINATION  
Article 28  
(1) After  formal  exami nation  of  the  filed 
application referred to in Article 21 or 25 of 
this Act has been concluded, and if the 
application  is correct, the Office  shall carry 
out substa ntive exami nation of  the filed 
applicatio n. 
 
(2) If established  that the application  does not 
comply with the necessa ry requirements, 
the Office  shall deliver  to the applicant the 
exami nation results with t he reaso ns owing 
to which the protection  of the geograp hical 
indication or the  designat ion of origin  shall 
not be grant ed, or the right of use the reof 
shall not be granted,  and shall invite  him reaso ns with in a specific t ime limit.  
 
(3) At a reasoned request  of the applican t, the 
Office  may extend  the time limit referred 
to in paragraph (2) of this Article, wh ich 
shall not exc eed six months as  from the 
invitation  to make o bservations. 
 
(4) If the applicant  makes  no obser vation at 
all or if he does, and t he Office cons iders 
that a   geographical   indication   or   a 
designat ion of origin  as applied  for shall 
not be protected, or that a specific  person 
shall not be granted the right of use, the 
Office  shall refuse a request  for the 
protect ion of a geographical indicat ion or  a 
designat ion of origin,  or a request  for the 
grant of  the right of use of a  geograph ical 
indicatio n, or a desig nation of origin.  
 
(5) If the Office  establishes  in the proce dure 
carried out that  the application  for the 
protect ion of a geographical indicat ion or  a 
designat ion of  origin  complies with the 
formal  and      substantive      granting 
requirements  it    shall    publish    the 
application and  thus make it available  to 
public.  
 
 
PUBLICATION  OF AN APPLICATION  
Article 29  
(1) An  application  for  the  protect ion  of  a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin  shall be  published in  the official 
gazette  of the Office.  
 
(2) The contents  of informat ion contained  in 
the applicat ion to be published  shall be 
provided for  by the Regu lations.  
 
 
 
OPPO SITION 
 
OPPOSITION PROCE DURE 
Article 30  
(1) Any interested  person  having its principle 
place  of  busin ess  or  domicile  in  the 
territory  of  the Republic  of Croatia may 
file,  within  a  prescribed  time  limit,  an 
oppos ition to the published applicat ion for 
a geographical  indicat ion or a designation 
of origin,  if he/she considers  that it does 
not comply with the requirements provided 
for by this A ct. Act on Geog raphical Indications and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/** /*** 
10 May,  2018  
  
(2) The owner of a trade name or a registered 
trademark may file, within the prescr ibed 
time limit, an opposit ion to the published 
application  of a geographical indicat ion or 
a designation of  origin,  if it is in its entirety 
or in part identical with that trade name 
registered  in   good   faith   and   if   its 
protect ion  would  jeo pardise  the  right  of 
that trade name or trademar k, having 
regard to    the    actual    likelihood    of 
confus ion. 
 
(3) The right of oppos ition shall pertain  to the 
owner of  a trademark having  acquired 
special  reputation  and  renown  through 
prior continu ous use, if the protection of  a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin,  may mislead  the consum er as to 
the true orig in of the pro duct. 
 
(4) The opposit ion to the acquisition  of the 
right of use  shall not be filed.  
 
(5) The  opposit ion  shall  be  filed  with  the 
Office  within  three months from the date 
of publication  of the a pplication  in the 
official  gazette of the  Office, and shall 
contain the  relevant  evidence  proving that 
the geographical  indication  or designation 
of origin applied  for shall not  be protected 
under this A ct. 
 
(6) If the Office  establishes that the opposition 
does not comply with the formal 
requirements referred to in this Art icle, 
because  the opponent did  not file the 
oppos ition w ithin the prescribed  time limit, 
or has not submitted  any of  the required 
evidence,  it shall issue a decision  on the 
rejection of the  opposition and s hall inform 
the applica nt and the op ponent ther eof. 
 
(7) If the Office  establishes that the opposition 
is in compliance  with the necessary  formal 
requirements,  it shall continue  with the 
oppos ition p rocedure.  
 
 
EXAMINATION  OF THE OPPOSITION  
Article 31  
(1) The  Office  shall  deliver  the  oppos ition 
supported  with evidence  to the applicant 
for the entry of a geographical  indication 
or a designation  of origin  in the register, 
and  s hall  invite  him  to  give  his 
obser vations regarding allegatio ns in the 
oppos ition and supporting evidence,  within 
the time limit of 30 days as from the date 
of the deliver y thereo f. (2) At a request of the applicant, who shall 
prove  that  the  request  is  justified,  the 
Office  may extend  the time limit for not 
more t han another 30 da ys. 
 
(3) If   the   applicant   fails   to   submit   his 
obser vations on the opp osition within the 
prescribed t ime limit, the Office shall 
suspend  the   procedure   on   the   filed 
applicatio n. 
 
(4) Upon the receipt of the obser vations on 
the opposition, the Office shall exam ine 
whether it is justified.  
 
(5) If  established  necessary  for  issuing  a 
decision on the  opposition, the Office  may 
consult  a  relevant  institution  or  an 
individual  expert,    on    open    issues 
addressed in  the opposit ion. 
 
(6) If    the    Office    finds    the    opposition 
unjustifie d, the opposit ion shall  be refused, 
and a decision to that effect  shall be 
delivered to the oppo nent, and to the 
applicant.  
 
(7) If the Office  establishes in the opposition 
exami nation procedure  that the oppos ition 
is justifie d, it shall refuse the applicat ion 
for a   geographical   indication   or   a 
designat ion   of   origin,   and   notify   the 
decision to  that effect to  the opponent and 
to the  applicant.  
 
 
V. ENTRY  IN REGIST ER AND  THE 
RIGHTS EMANATING THERE FROM  
 
ENTRY  IN THE REGISTER  OF 
GEOGRAPHICAL  INDIC ATIONS  AND 
DESIGNA TIONS OF ORIGIN  
Article 32  
(1) If   the   application   for   a   geograph ical 
indication  or   a   designation   of   origin 
complies w ith all the re quirements, and if 
no oppos ition has been filed or the 
oppos ition has been refused  or rejected, 
the Office  shall issue a decision  on the 
protect ion of a geographical indicat ion or  a 
designat ion of origin,  and shall  enter the 
protected geographical indication in the 
Register  of Geographical  Indications,  and 
the protected  designation of  origin  in the 
Register of Designatio ns of Origin.  
 
(2) If the application  for the entry of the right 
of use of a geographical indicat ion or a 
designat ion  of  origin  complies  with  the May, 2018  11 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/** /*** 
prescribed  requirements,  the Office  shall 5.   Other  information  prescribed  by the  
 invite the a pplicant to pay the prescr ibed 
fee and charges for the  first ten years  of 
use of the indication  and to pay charges 
for the publication of  information 
concerning t he right of use, and to prov ide 
evidence on the effected paymen ts. 
 
(3) If the applicant  fails to pay the prescribed 
fee and cha rges within the fixed time  limit, 
and fails to provide e vidence on the 
effected  payment,  the Office  shall reject 
the applicat ion for the entry of the right of 
use of  a geographi cal indication or a 
designat ion of origin.  
 
 
ENTRY  IN THE REGISTER  OF AUTHORISED 
USERS  
Article 33  
When the applicant  has provided  evide nce on the 
effected pa yments refer red to in Article 33, 
paragraph ( 2) of this  Act, the  Office  shall issue a 
decision on the grant of the right of use of a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of origin, 
and shall enter the right of use of a geographical 
indication in the Register of  Authorised Use rs of 
Geographical  Indications,  and the right of use of 
a designation of origin in the Register of 
Authorised Users of Desig nations of Ori gin. 
 
 
SECOND  INSTANCE  PROCEEDING  
Article 34  
Against  final decisio ns of the Office  on granting 
or refusing t he entry in the register p ursua nt to 
Articles 32 and 33 of this Act, an ad ministrativ e 
lawsu it may be initiated be fore the Administrative 
Court of t he Republic of Croatia. 
 
 
CONTENTS  OF THE ENTRY  IN REGISTER  
Article 35  
The  followi ng  data  shall  be  entered  in  the 
Register  of Geograph ical Indicat ions or 
Designatio ns of Origin:  
 
1. The geographical  name protected by  a 
geographical indication or  by a designation  of 
origin;  
 
2.   The  kind of the product  or service  protected 
by a geographical indication or a designation 
of origin;  
 
3. Appearan ce  (form)  of  a  geographical 
indication;  
 
4.   Authori sed users of geographical  indications 
or desig nations of origin;  Regulat ions. 
 
 
REGISTER  OF AUTHORISED  USERS  
Article 36  
The  followi ng  data  shall  be  entered  in  the 
Register  of Authorised  Users of  Geographical 
Indications or  Designat ions of Origin:  
 
1.   Name  and surname  or name and address, 
i.e. establish ment of the author ised user of a 
geographical indication  or a designat ion of 
origin;  
 
2. A  geographical  name  protected  by a 
geographical indication  or a designat ion of 
origin.  
 
3.  The registration number of  a geographical 
indication  or a desig nation of origin;  
 
4.   Other  information  prescribed  by the 
Regulat ions. 
 
 
PUBLICATION  
Article 37  
(1) Informat ion  on  a  protected  geograph ical 
indication  or a designation of origin  shall 
be published in  the official gazette  of the 
Office.  
 
(2) The  information  to  be  published  in  the 
official  gazette  of the  Office  shall be 
prescribed by  the Regu lations. 
 
(3) The     publication     of     a     protected 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin  shall be subject to the  payme nt of 
prescribed  publication  charges,  laid down 
in a spec ial regulatio n. 
 
 
MANNER  OF USE 
Article 38  
(1) An  authorised  user  of  a  geograph ical 
indication  or a designation of origin  shall 
be entitled to  use the protected  name  only 
for identifyi ng the kind of  the product  to 
which it relates.  
 
(2) The right referred  to in paragraph  (1) of 
this Article s hall also c omprise the use o f a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin   on      packaging,      catalogues, 
brochures,  advertisemen ts,   and   other 
forms  of business  documentat ion, and the 
import  and export of  products identified  by 
such a   geographical   indication   or   a 
designat ion of origin.  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/** /*** 
number  of  times,  under  the  prescr ibed 
12 May 2018   
 CERTIFICA TE 
Article 39  
(1) After the entry of the right of use of a 
protected  geographical  indication  or a 
designat ion   of   origin   in   the   relevant 
register  and   after   the   payment   of 
prescribed c harges for issu ing a certific ate, 
the Office s hall issue a  certificate  of the 
right of use of a geograph ical indication  or 
a designat ion of origin  to the aut horised 
user. 
 
(2) The  form  and  content  of  the  certifi cate 
shall be prov ided for by the Regulations.  
 
 
LIMITA TIONS AS TO DISPOSITION 
Article 40  
(1) A geographical  indication  or a designation 
of origin  shall not be the subject  matter of 
a contract on the transfer of rights,  a 
license co ntract, a pled ge, a franch ising 
contra ct or any other form of assignment 
of rights.  
 
(2) If    a    geographical    indication    or    a 
designat ion of origin  is the subject matter 
of an applied for  or registered  trademark, 
such a trad emark shall n ot be tra nsferred, 
assigned, giv en in pledge,  and the like.  
 
(3) A geographical  indication  or a designation 
of origin having several authorised users 
shall be the subje ct matter only of a 
collective t rademark.  
 
 
DURATI ON OF PROTE CTION 
Article 41  
The duration of a geographical  indicat ion and a 
designat ion  of  origin  of products  and servic es 
shall n ot be l imited.  
 
 
DURATION  AND RENEWAL  OF THE RIGHT 
OF USE AND THE ENTRY  OF CHANGES 
Article 42  
(1) The   right   of   use   of   a   geographical 
indication sh all last for ten years as  from 
the date of entry of an a uthorised  user in 
the Register   of   Autho rised   Users   of 
Geographical Indications  or in the Register 
of Author ised Users of Design ations of 
Origin.  
 
(2) The right referred to in paragraph  (1) of 
this Article  may be renewed  for unlimited  requiremen ts. 
 
(3) The  renewal  of  the  right  of  use  of  a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin  shall be granted  upon the payment 
of the pres cribed fees and  maintenance 
charges.  
 
(4) The entry in the Register of the renewal of 
the right of use shall be carried out in the 
manner prov ided for by the Regulatio ns. 
 
(5) At the request of an authorised  user the 
Office  shall enter in the Register the  status 
changes  and  other  changes  referring  to 
the authorised user of a  geographical 
indication  or a desig nation of origin.  
 
(6) The procedure for the entry of changes 
shall be prov ided for by the Regulations.  
 
 
VI. CANCELLATI ON OF ENTRY  
IN THE REGISTER  
 
 
EXPIRATION  OF THE RIGHT OF USE 
Article 43  
The right of use of  a geographical  indication or a 
designat ion of  origin s hall expire  before the 
expirat ion of the time limit referred to in Article  
42, parag raph of this A ct in the followi ng cases:  
 
1.   If the author ised user waived his right of use 
– on the day following  the day of subm ission 
of the notice  of waiver  to the Office;  
 
2.   On the basis of a final court decision or any 
other decision of a competent authority in 
the cases p rovided for by this Act – on the 
date specified  by those decisions; 
 
3.   If  a right holder who is a legal person  ceased 
to exist, or a natural  person deceased – on 
the date  of the respec tive e vent. 
 
 
DECLARATION OF A DECISION  ON THE 
PROTECTION  OF A GEOGRAPHICAL 
INDICATION  AND A DESIGNATION  OF 
ORIGIN NULL AND VOID 
Article 44  
(1) A   decision   on   the   protect ion   of   a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin  shall be declared null  and void, if 
established t hat 
 
1. There were no c onditions for the 
protect ion of a geographical  indicat ion 
or a designation  of origin provided  for 
by this Act,  May, 2018  13 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
  
2.   An obstacle  laid down  in the provisions 
of Article 7  paragraph (1),  items  1 to 7 
of this A ct existed, 
 
3.   The  procedu re for the declarat ion of a 
decision  null   and   void   shall   be 
regulated by  the Regu lations  
 
4. An unaut horised person filed the 
application fo r the entry in  registe r. 
 
(2) Procedure  for the declarat ion of a decision 
null and void referred to in parag raph (1) 
of  this  A rticle  may  be  initiated  by  the 
Office  ex officio, at a proposal  of an 
intere sted person or  at a prop osal of the 
State Attorney  for the whole duration of 
the prote ction. 
 
(3) Procedure  for the declarat ion of a decision 
null and void shall be in detail provided for 
by the Regu lations.  
 
(4) Declarat ion of a geograph ical indication  or 
a designation  of origin  null and void shall 
be entered in the register and  published  in 
the official gazette of  the O ffice. 
 
 
REVOCATION  OF A DECISI ON ON THE 
GRANT  OF THE RIGHT  OF USE  
Article 45  
(1) A decision on the grant of the right of use 
by an a uthorised user may be revo ked, if 
established  that  the  conditions  for  the 
grant of such  right provided  for by this Act 
have ceased to  exist. In the  procedure 
concerning  the request  for revocat ion of a 
decision  on the grant of the right of use, 
the authorised   user   shall   prove   the 
existence of the condit ions for the grant of 
the right of use. 
 
(2) The  revocation  procedur e  referred  to  in 
paragraph  (1)  of  this  Article  shall  be 
carried out before the Office, and s hall be 
instituted  ex officio,  at a proposal  of an 
intere sted person or  at a prop osal of the 
State A ttorney. 
 
(3) The procedur e referred to in paragraph  (2) 
of this Article  shall be in detail provided for 
by the Regu lations.  
 
 
LEGAL  EFFECTS OF REVOCATION  OF 
DECISION  
Article 46  
For the person entered in  the Register  of 
Authori sed Users  of a Geographical  Indication  or 
a Designat ion of Origin , the right of use shall cease  after the administ rative decisio n, revoking 
a decision granting  the capacity of  author ised 
user, ha s become fina l. 
 
VII. EXERCISE  OF RIGHTS 
CIVIL PROTECTI ON 
INFRINGEMENT 
Article 47  
Any  unauthorised  use  of  a  geographical 
indication or a  designat ion of  origin or  the use of 
any other sign, or practi ce, prohibited  pursuant 
to Article 16 of  this Act, shall be  considered 
infringement  of a geographical  indication or a 
designat ion of origin.  
 
 
LEGAL  ACTION  
Article 48  
(1) A legal action against the infringement  of a 
protected geographical  indication,  or a 
designat ion of origin,  may be instituted by 
the  person     who     registered     the 
indication/ designatio n, authorised  users of 
the geographical    indication    or    the 
designat ion of  origin, assoc iations in the 
field  of  industry  and  trade,  and  by  the 
State A ttorney. 
 
(2) In a legal action referred  to in paragraph 
(1) of this Article  the following  may be 
claimed:  
 
1. E stablishm ent of the existence of 
infringement  
 
2. Prohibition of  activities  infringing  a 
protected geographical  indication or a 
designat ion of origin.  
 
3. Seizure  and destruct ion of products 
resulting from or obtained by infrin ging 
a protected  geographical  indication  or 
a desig nation of origin.  
 
4.   Seizure  and  destruction  of  materia ls 
and implements  predominantly used to 
produce the infringing goods.  
 
5. Publication  of  a  judgment  at 
defendant ’s expenses.  
 
(3) The respo nsibility  for infringing  a protected 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin under this Act sh all not exclude the 
respo nsibility   for  infringing  a  right  and 
other a ctions pursuant to the provis ions 
relating to unfair market competit ion. 14 May 2018  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
  
DAMAGE  
Article 49  
Authorised  users may claim  compe nsation for 
damages pu rsuant to the general rules on the 
compensat ion for damages.  
 
 
COMPETENT  COURT  
Article 50  
In a legal act ion instituted  against the 
infringement  of a geographical  indication or a 
designat ion of origin,  territorial  jurisdiction shall 
be with the c ommercial court on the te rritory of 
which  the  aut horised  use rs  of  such  a 
geographical indication  or a designat ion of origin 
have a domicile or an esta blishment.  
 
 
TIME LIMIT  FOR INITIATING LEGAL  ACTION  
Article 51  
A legal act ion agai nst the infringement of a 
protected  geographical  indication  or  a 
designat ion of origin  may be  instituted within  the 
period  of three years as from the date on which 
any infringement  and perpetrator  have become 
known,  and not  later than within  five years  from 
the date on  which  particular  infringement 
occurred.  
 
 
ORDERI NG OF PROVISIONAL MEASURE 
Article 52  
(1) In the course  of a legal action against the 
infringement  of a geographical  indication 
or a designation of origin, the court may 
be claimed  to order  a provisional measure  
to prohibit the infringi ng actions and 
temporarily seize  the products  allegedly 
infringing  a geographical indication or  a 
designat ion of  origin, and  to preserve 
relevant evidence regarding  the alleged 
infringement.  
 
(2) A  provis ional  measure  may  be  claimed 
even before  instituting a  legal action, 
provided  that the act ion is instituted  within 
the time limit of 20 days, or 31 cale ndar 
days, whichever  is longer,  as from the day 
of applying   for   the   ordering   of   a 
provisio nal measure. 
 
(3) Where  any delay in adopting a provis ional 
measure is likely to ca use an irreparable 
harm to a registrant or authorised  users of 
a geographical  indicat ion or a designation 
of origin,  or where  there is an evident risk 
of evidence    being    destro yed,    the 
provisio nal measure shall be adopted 
without  hear ing  a  defen dant. In  such a case   the   defendant   s hall   be   notified 
without  delay. A review,  including  a right 
to be heard, shall  take place at the request 
of a defen dant, with  a view  to decide, 
within a reaso nable time limit after the 
notificat ion   of   the   measures,   whether 
these  measu res shall be revoked,  modified 
or confor med. 
 
(4) An appeal  against  a decision  ordering a 
provisio nal measure shall  not delay the 
enforcemen t of the dec ision. 
 
(5) The court shall apply  emergency  proce dure 
to legal actions against infringement  of a 
geographical indication  or a designation  of 
origin.  
 
 
MISDEMEANOUR  PROCEDURE  
Article 53  
(1) Any legal entity shall be punished  by a fine 
of HRK 2 0,000 to 100,000 for:  
 
1.   Using  directly or indirectly, and  without 
author isation, geographi cal indicatio ns 
or designations  of origin  for products 
being identical with or comparable to 
registered  products  for the purpose of 
acquiring  economic  benef it, even if a 
true geogra phical origin  of the  product 
is indicate d, or where  a geographical 
indication or a  designation of  origin  is 
translated  or  accompanied  by 
additional te rms; 
 
2. Using  geographical  indications or 
designat ions of origin in a way 
prejudicial  to    the    reputation    or 
exploiting  the   reputation   of   the 
protected geographical indication;  
 
3.   Using  false or misleading  information 
as to t he geographical ori gin, natu re or 
quality  of a product or  a service  on the 
packaging,  advertising   material   or 
other documents liable to convey the 
impression  of connect ion between a 
product  or a service, and a  protected 
geographical   indication      or      a 
designat ion of origin;  
 
4.   Performing   other   actions   liable   to 
mislead  the    public    as    to    the 
geographical origin  of a product  or a 
service;  
 
(1) A natural  person and a responsible person 
in a legal person  shall be punished  by a 
fine  amou nting  from  HRK  2,000  up  to May, 2018  15 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
  
8,000 when found  to be in  possession of 
products illegally produ ced or put into 
circulation and  when  refusing  to give 
informat ion about the origin  and the 
manner of  obtaining such  product s. 
 
(2) A responsible  person  in a legal person  shall 
be punished by  a fine amounting  from HRK  
5,000 up to 1 0,000,  for the misde meanour 
referred to in  paragraph (1) of this Artic le. 
 
(3) A natural  person  shall be punished  by a 
fine amounting from HRK 2,000 to 8,000 
for the misdemea nour referred to in 
paragraph (1) of this Artic le. 
 
(4) The products  intended  for or used for the 
commitment of  misde meanours  referred to 
in paragrap hs (1), (2 ), (3) and (4) of this 
Article  shall be seized  and destro yed upon 
the final decision of a judic ial body.  
 
 
VIII. APPL ICATION  OF SPEC IAL 
PROV ISIONS 
 
OTHER  PROVISIONS  APPLIED  TO THE 
PROCEDURE  BEFORE  THE OFFICE 
Article 54  
For specific subject  matte rs from the  procedure 
not regulated by this Act, the Act on  General 
Administrativ e Procedure  shall apply.  
 
 
FEES AND PROCEDURAL  CHARGES  
Article 55  
The  payme nt  of  fees  and  procedural  charge s 
shall be effected in compliance with the special 
provisio ns for the  proced ures provided for  under 
this Ac t. 
 
 
IX. TRANSITIONAL  AND  FINAL 
PROV ISIONS 
 
APPLICATION OF THE ACT TO PENDING 
PROCEDUR ES 
Article 56  
(1) This   Act   shall   apply   to   all   pending 
procedures  related to  the protection of 
geographical indications or designations of 
origin,  or the acquisit ion of  the rights  of 
use, except for th ose relating to the 
products  the protect ion of which shall be 
exerc ised un der special p rovisio ns. 
 
(2) Instituted  but pending  procedures  relating 
to  the  prod ucts the protection of which 
shall be exer cised under sp ecial regulat ions and concluded  before  the Office  pursuant 
to  the  provisions  of  the  Act  on 
Geographical  Indicatio ns of Produ cts and 
Services (‘Off icial Gazette No. 78/9 9.). 
 
(3) Geographical  indications and designations 
of origin which have been granted and 
entered  in the relevant  register  kept by the 
Office,  relating   to   the   products   the 
protect ion of which  is exercised under 
special p rovisions, sh all be entered in the 
relevant reg isters established pursu ant to 
the res pective regulations.  
 
(4) The same  shall apply  to the structure  and 
entry in the Register of A uthorised  Users of 
the Protected Geographical  Indications or 
Designatio ns of Origin  for the  products the 
protect ion of which  is exercised under 
special regu lations.  
 
 
IMPLEMENTING  REGULATIONS  
Article 57  
The com petent Minis ter shall, at t he proposal of 
the director of  the Office,  enact  the Regulatio ns 
for the implementation of  this Act up  to the 
commence ment of applicat ion of th is Act.  
 
 
CESSATI ON OF VALIDITY OF 
A PREVIOUS  LEGAL  ACT 
Article 58  
With the  date of  commen cement of  application of 
the present Act,  the Act on Geographical 
Indicatio ns of Products and Services (Official 
Gazette  No.  78/99)  shall  cease  to  be  valid, 
except   for   the   provision   on   representation 
(Article   14),   which   shall   apply   up   to   the 
enact ment of  a spec ial law. 
 
 
ENTRY  INTO FORCE  
Article 59  
This Act shall enter  into force on the eighth day 
from the date of its publication in  the Official 
Gazette  of  the  Republic  of  Croatia,  and  shall 
apply as  of 1 Jan uary 2004 . 16 May 2018  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
  
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING 
THE GEORGRAPHIC AL INDI CATIONS 
AND  DESIGNATI ONS OF ORIGIN  OF 
PRODU CTS AND  SERVICES  ACT* CONTENTS  OF AN APPEAL 
Article 46b  
In addition to  the data which  every written 
submi ssion has to c ontain, the app eal has to 
contai n: 
 
Article 1  
In the Geographical  Indications and  Designations 
of Origin  of Products  and Services  Act (Official 
Gazette  No. 173/03)  Article 11 is amended  to 
read: 
“(1) The State Intelle ctual Property Office 
(hereinafter: the  Office)  shall carry out the 
administ rative proceedin gs for the registration of 
geographical  indications  and  designations  of 
origin  of products  and servi ces and  the 
proceedings  for their invalidatio n, and shall 
perform ot her administ rative and professional 
tasks concerning the protection of  geographical 
indications and designations of origin  of products 
and servi ces. 
(2) The ad ministrativ e decisions issued by the 
Office  in the first  instance  may be appealed  and 
the appeals shall be decided on by the Board  of 
Appeal  in accordance  with the provis ions of this 
Act. The  filing of an appeal  shall be subject to 
payment of t he administ rative fee and procedural 
charges  in accordance with  special regulatio ns. If 
the  admin istrative  f ee  and  procedu ral  charg es 
are   not   paid   timely,   the   appeal   shall   be 
conside red as not filed.  
(3) The provisions of the General  Administrative 
Proceedin gs Act shall apply to particular  matters 
concerning the  procedure referred to in 
paragraphs  1 and  2 of this Article,  not regulated 
by this Act.  
(4) The administr ative decisions rende red by the 
Board of Appeal  in the s econd instance may be 
challenged  in  the  administrative  dispute 
according to the Administrative Dispute Act.” 
 
Article 2  
Headin gs above article  34 and the provisio n of 
Article 34 s hall be deleted.  
 
Article 3  
Below  Article 46 a new  Part Seven: “APPEAL” and 
new Articles 46a and 46d  are inserted to read:  
“RIGHT  TO A PPEAL” 
Article 46a  
(1) A party whose  request has been fully or 
partially ref used has the right to appeal the 
decision with in 30 days from the day the decision 
was r eceive d. 
(2) Other  parties to the proceedings  ended  by 
the decision which  is appealed  have the right to 
be parties  to the appeal proceedin gs. 1.  identification of  the decree which is 
appeale d, 
2.  specified statement on whether  the 
decree  is  appealed  in  full  or  in 
certain pa rt, 
3.   grounds for  appeal,  
4.   reasons   for   appeal,  and   all  the 
evidence  which    the    appellant 
propo ses as a proof for t he appeal,  
5.   appellant ’s signature,  
6.  power  of attorney if the appeal is 
submitted th rough an atto rney. 
 
DECIDING ON APPEAL 
Article 46d  
(1) The Boards of Appeal shall dec ide at the 
meetings, by  majority v ote. 
(2) The Boards of Appeal shall make the decision 
on the basis of  parties0 written submi ssions, and, 
if they considers  necessary  or when  a party to 
the proceedings requests so, they may hold a 
hearing. The  parties shall be informed  of the 
hearing not less than 10 days prior to its holding.  
 
THE BOARDS  OF APPEAL 
Article 46d  
(1) The app eals referred to in article  46a of this 
Act shall be decided  on by the Boards of Appeal 
in the field of  industrial property.  
(2)  The  composit ion  a nd  constitut ion  of  the 
Board of Ap peal referred to in Article 46a of this 
Act  shall  be  subject  to  the  provisions  of  the 
Patent Act.”  
Prese nt Part Seven s hall become P art Eight. 
 
Article 4  
Headin gs above Article 48 are am ended to read: 
“PERSONS AUTHORI SED TO CLAIM 
ENFORCEMENT OF A RIGHT”. 
Article 48 is amended to read:  
“Prote ction of  the right under this Act may be 
claimed  by a person  who registered an  indication 
of origin, a uthorised use rs of an indication of 
origin, assoc iations in the field of industry and 
trade and the State A ttorney.” 
 
Article 5  
Headin gs above Article 49 are am ended to read: 
“THE APPLI CATION MUTATIS MUTANDIS OF THE 
PROVISIONS  OF THE TRADEMARK ACT”.  
Article 49 is amended to read:  May, 2018  17 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
  
“The provisions  of the Trademark  Act concerning 
the civil enforcement of trademar ks shall apply 
mutat is mutandis to civil enforcement  of 
geographical  indications  and  designations  of 
origin  of  products  and  services,  as  regulated 
under this A ct.“ 
 
Article 6  
Headin gs above Articles  50 to 52 and Article  50 
to 52 s hall be deleted.  
 
Article 7  
In Article 53, pa ragraph 2 and paragraph 4 
number “8,00 0” is replaced  by number: “10,000”. 
Following the  paragraph 4,  a new paragraph 5 is 
added to read:  
“(5) A natural person  – a crafts man, or a self - 
employed p erson co mmitting a misdemea nour 
referred to in paragraph  1 of this Article, in the 
course   of   their   business   activity,   shall   be 
punished by a fine from HRK 5.000 to 50.000.”  
In the former  paragraph  5, which  shall become 
paragraph  6,  numbers  “1,  2,  3  and  4”  are 
replaced by numbers “1, 2, 3, 4 and 5”. 
 
Article 8  
The for mer Part Eight  shall become P art Nine.  
 
Article 9  
Headin gs above Article 54 and Article 54 shall be 
deleted.  
 
Article 10  
The for mer Part Nine s hall become P art Ten. 
 
TRANSOTORY  AND FINAL  PROVISIONS  
Article 11  
(1) The administrativ e disputes  initiated before 
the Admin istrative Court prior to 1 Jan uary 2008, 
shall  be  completed  be fore  t he  Administrative 
Court  in accordance  with the  provisions which 
were applica ble before t hat date.  
(2) A party which instituted a legal acti on before 
the Administrative  Court prior to 1 June 2008 in 
accor dance with  the provisio ns that were 
applicable  until that date, may request the 
Administrativ e Court to stay the pro ceedings if 
within  30 days from t hat day it has su bmitted an 
appeal  based on the same groun ds and same  
reasons  as  in  the  legal  act ion,  if  an  appeal 
against such an admin istrative decision is allowed 
pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  this  Act.  The 
second-instance administrative  decision rendered 
on the basis of  that appeal  may be challenged  in 
the  administ rative  dispute  according  to  the 
provisio ns of the Administ rative Disp ute Act. Article 12  
The proceedings for the enforc ement of the 
geographical  indications  and  designations  of 
origin  of products  and services  pendi ng on the 
day this Act enters  into force shall be completed 
pursuant  to the rules in force before  the entry 
into force  of this Act.  
 
Article 13  
The Regu lations referred to  in Article 57 of the 
Geographical Indications  and Designations  of 
Origin  of Products  and Services  Act (Official 
Gazette,  No. 173/03)  shall be harmo nised with 
the provisions of this Act by the Minist er 
competen t for the work of  the Office, at the 
proposal  of the Director  General  of the Office, 
not   later   than   three  months   following   the 
entering into  effect of th is Act. 
 
Article 14  
This Act s hall enter into force on the eight  day 
following the day of its p ublication in the Official 
Gazette,  except for Articles 1 and 3 which  will 
enter into force on 1 Jun e 2008.  18 May 2018  Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPL EMENTING  THE GEOR GRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PRODUCTS AND 
SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
  
ACT 
ON AMEN DMENTS  TO THE ACT ON 
GEOGR APHICAL INDICATIONS AND 
DESIG NATIONS  OF ORIGIN OF 
PRODU CTS AND  SERVICES**  
 
In the Act on Geographical Indications and 
Designatio ns of Origin  of Products  and Services 
(“Official  Gazette”  Nos.  173/03,  186/03  and 
76/07), in A rticle 11, paragraph (2), the wor ds 
“administ rative decisions” are repla ced by the 
word  “decis ions”,  and  the  last  sentence  is 
deleted.  
Paragraph  (3) is delete d. 
In the for mer paragraph (4), which becomes 
paragraph (3),  the words  “administrative 
decisio ns” are replaced by the word “dec isions”. 
 
Article 2  
In Article  27 paragraph  (2), the words “invite 
him” is replaced  by the words “order him  by a 
conclus ion”. 
In paragraph (3)  the word “invitation”  is replaced 
by the word “conclus ion”. 
In paragraph (4),  the Croatian word tra nslated as 
“a decision” is replaced  by another  Croatian  word 
translated as “a decis ion”. 
 
Article 3  
In Article 30 paragraph (6), the Croatian word translated as “a decision” is replaced  by another 
Croat ian wo rd trans lated a s “a dec ision”. 
 
Article 4  
In Article 31,  paragraph (3) is amended to read: 
“(3) If the  applicant   fails to submit  his 
obser vations on the oppos ition  within  the 
prescribed  time limit, the Office  shall refuse  the 
application  for  the  entry  of  a  geographical 
indication  or  a  designation  of  origin  in  the 
registe r.”. 
 
Article 5  
In  Article  32  paragraph  (2),  the  words  “shall 
invite  the applicant” are  replaced  by the  words 
“shall order  the applicant  by a concl usion”.  
 
Article 6  
In Article 44  paragraph (1), item 4 is added to 
read: 
“4. Complia nce with the conditio ns set out  in the 
specification is no longer ensured.”  
In Article  46a, the Croatian word  translated as “a 
decision” in the appropr iate grammatical number 
and case is replaced  by another  Croatian  word translated as “a decision ” in the appropriate 
grammatical  number and case.  
 
 
Article 8  
The  Minister  res ponsible  for  the  work  of  the 
Office shal l, on a proposal given by the Director 
General of t he Office, ha rmonize the Regulatio ns 
referred   to   in   Article   57   of   the   Act   on 
Geographical Indications  and Designations  of 
Origin  of  Products  and  Services  (“Official 
Gazette”  Nos. 173/03,  186/03 and 76/07) with 
the provisions of this  Act not later than  within a 
period  of two months from the day of  the entry 
into force  of this Act.  
 
 
Article 9  
This Act shall enter  into force on the eighth day 
following  the day  of the publication  thereof in the 
“Official Gazette”.  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 May, 2018  19 Act on Geog raphical Indic ations and D esignatio ns of Origin of Pro ducts and Ser vices 
ACT MENDING  AND SUPPLE MENTING THE GEORGRAPHICAL  INDICATIONS  AND DESIGNATIONS  OF ORIGIN  OF PROD UCTS 
AND SERVICES ACT*/** /***  
 ACT 
ON AMEN DMENTS  TO THE ACT ON 
GEOGR APHICAL INDICATIONS AND 
DESIG NATIONS  OF ORIGIN OF 
PRODU CTS AND  SERVICES***  
 
Article 1  
In the Act on Geographical Indications and 
Designations of Origin of Products and Services 
(»Official Gazette«, No. 173/03, 186/03 – 
Corrigendum, 54/05, 76/07 and 49/11) in Article 
11, paragraphs (2) and (3) shall be amended to 
read: 
»(2) The decisions issued by the Office cannot be appealed, but an administrative dispute can be 
instituted befor e the Administrative Court in 
Zagreb.  
(3) The procedure referred to in paragraph (2) of 
this Article is urgent.«.  
 
Article 2  
The heading of Part Seven: »APPEAL«, headings above Articles and Articles 46a to 46d shall be 
deleted.  
 
TRANSITIONAL  AND FINAL  PROVISIONS  
Article 3  
The Minister responsible for supervision of the 
work of the State Intellectual Property Office shall 
harmonise the Regulations on Geographical 
Indications and Designations of Origin of Products 
and Services (»Official Gazette«, No. 72/ 04, 
117/07, 66/11 and 43/17) with the provisions of 
this Act within 30 days from the day of the entry 
into force of this Act.  
 
Article 4  
(1) Administrative procedures instituted by the 
provisions of the Act on Geographical Indications 
and Designations of Origin of Products and 
Services (»Official Gazette«, No. 173/03, 186/03 – 
Corrigendum, 54/05, 76/07 and 49/11) where the State Intellectual Property Office as the first 
instance authority issued the decision until the 
day of the entry into force of this Act shall be 
completed in accordance with the provisions of 
that Act and the regulations issued pursuant to 
that Act.  
(2) Boards of Appeal in the field of industrial 
property rights established and appointed on the 
basis of the Patents Act (»Official Gazette «, No. 
173/03, 54/05, 87/05, 76/07, 30/09, 128/10, 49/11 and 76/13) shall continue to operate in 
accordance with the provisions of that Act and the  
 
 regulations issued pursuant to that Act until all the 
administrative procedures referred to in paragraph 
(1) of this Article are completed by reaching final 
decisions, after which they shall cease to operate.  
(3) If, because of dismissal of the president or members of the Boards of Appeal referred to in 
paragraph (2) of this Article, it is not possible to 
determine the Board of Appeal to decide on an 
appeal, the procedure of electing or appointing the president or necessary number of members of 
the Boards of Appeal can exceptionally be 
conducted in accordance with the provisions of 
the Patents Act (»Official G azette«, No. 173/03, 
54/05, 87/05, 76/07, 30/09, 128/10, 49/11 and 
76/13), for the needs of resolving the case 
referred to in paragraph (1) of this Article.  
 
Article 5  
This Act shall enter into force on the eighth day 
following the day of its publication in the »Official 
Gazette«.