Adding a logo to a protected food or drink name: follow the rules
Rules on using a geographical indication (GI) scheme logo to mark a registered protected food or drink name.
There are 3 UK GI scheme logos that mark each designation of geographical indication (GI):
- protected designation of origin (PDO) - designated origin logo
- protected geographical indication (PGI) - geographic origin logo
- traditional speciality guaranteed (TSG) - traditional speciality logo
PDO, PGI and TSG logos: colour version
Rules on how you use a GI logo are specific to each UK GI scheme. You must follow the rules for their use before you trade your product, or you could be in breach of the UK GI scheme regulations. You may need to add EU GI logos depending on where it’s sold.
Email Defra if you have specific queries on the logo rules [email protected].
Protected food names (PFN) scheme: rules on using the GI logos
These rules apply to registered food, beer, cider, perry and agricultural products.
PFN products from Great Britain (GB) registered before 1 January 2021
Rules for using the relevant logos on a UK PFN depend on where it’s sold. You:
- must add the relevant UK logo to a product sold in GB by 1 January 2024
- can choose to add the relevant UK logo to a product sold in Northern Ireland (NI)
- can choose to add the relevant UK logo to a product sold in the rest of the world, unless it conflicts with local regulations
- can choose to add the EU logo on a UK PFN registered under the EU scheme to a product sold in the UK and the rest of the world
PFN products from GB registered after 1 January 2021
For a GB PFN registered under the UK GI scheme, you must add the relevant UK GI logo as soon as it goes on sale in GB as a GI product.
You can choose to add the relevant UK GI logo to a newly registered UK PFN if it’s sold in:
- NI
- the rest of the world, unless it conflicts with local regulations
You can only use the EU GI logo if you’re registered under the EU GI scheme.
PFN products from NI registered before 1 January 2021
Rules for using the EU GI logo on an existing PFN product from NI depend on where it’s sold. You:
- must add the EU logo to a product sold in Northern Ireland or the EU
- can choose to add the EU logo to a product sold in GB
- can choose to add the EU logo to a product sold in the rest of the world, unless it conflicts with local regulations
You can choose to use the relevant UK GI logo on a PFN product from NI sold anywhere in the world as long as local regulations allow it.
PFN products from NI registered after 1 January 2021
Rules for using the EU GI logo on NI PFNs registered under the EU GI scheme depend on where it’s sold. You:
- must add the EU GI logo to a product sold in NI or the EU
- can choose to add the EU GI logo to a product sold in GB
- can choose to add the EU GI logo to a product sold in the rest of the world, unless it conflicts with local regulations
For NI PFNs registered under the UK GI scheme, you can choose to use the relevant UK GI logo for a product sold anywhere in the world, as long as local regulations allow it.
PFNs of non-UK origin
For PFN products of non-UK origin, registered under the UK GI scheme, you can choose to use the relevant UK GI logo on products on sale in the UK.
For products from the EU registered under the EU GI scheme, you:
- can choose to use the EU GI logo on products sold in GB
- must use the EU GI logo for products sold in NI
For products from the rest of the world, registered under the EU GI scheme, you can choose to use the EU GI logo for products sold in the UK.
Use of UK and EU logos
In some cases, it’s possible to use the UK and EU GI logo. For example, if your product is registered under both schemes. You must check local regulations before displaying both logos on products.
To avoid clutter, you may choose to use one logo. You must add the mandatory logo, or choose which logo to use, if the choice is optional.
Protected wine and aromatised wine scheme: rules on using the UK GI scheme logos
Registered wine products of UK origin may carry the relevant UK GI logo on a wine product or its label. It’s not compulsory to add a GI logo. If you use it, the logo must be in the same field of vision as the product’s registered GI name.
On packaging, you must include the relevant GI designation in full:
- protected designation of origin
- protected geographical indication
Protected spirit drinks scheme: rules on using the UK GI scheme logos
Registered spirit drinks of UK origin may carry the PGI logo. It’s not compulsory to add the logo. If you use it, the logo must be in the same field of vision as the product’s registered GI name.
On packaging, you must add ‘protected geographical indication’ in full.
Logo specification, printing instructions and file formats
You can only use a logo on a product if the name has GI protection. You must use the logo associated with the designation awarded to the registered GI name.
You must not:
- alter, crop or distort the logo
- change its colour
- change its shade (if using a black and white specification)
- add to or remove any part of the logo
Size and position
You must:
- print the whole logo at a minimum size of 15mm x 15mm
- have a space of 4.5mm around it from the edge of a label, other text or images
- display the logo on the product or its label in the same field of vision as the registered GI name
Colour specification
Use either:
- Pantone matching system: gold - solid PMS 467 C, black - PMS BLACK C
- CMYK system: gold - C:0 M:15 Y:40 K:15, black - K:100
Black and white specification
Use either:
- PMS BLACK C
- CMYK system: C:0 M:0 Y:0 K:100
To use in black and white, you must never reverse the logo out of a dark background.
PDO, PGI and TSG logos: black and white version
File formats
Each UK GI logo is available as:
- colour or black and white
- EPS - high resolution format for large scale printing in CMYK or PMS spot colour
- JPEG - compressed file format widely supported by most platforms
- PNG - high quality format for screen use and websites
How to download the logos
Click on the relevant zip file to download it to your desktop. You can then choose the logo file format EPS, JPEG or PNG to print the logo in colour or black and white. If you use a printing company, copy and email the relevant zip file link to them: