Briefing
The Regional Minister for Science, Industry and Employment of the Principality of Asturias, Borja Sánchez, announced on 11 October 2026 during a visit to the Museo de la Cuchillería in Taramundi the reactivation of the “Maestros artesanos” label and also announced plans to advance registration of Taramundi’s Cuchillería as an Indicación Geográfica Protegida (protected geographical indication). According to the regional government and reports in regional media, the plan is to establish accreditation for experienced craftspeople, requiring not only quality assurance but also the passing on of skills and the training of future professionals.
Sánchez said that formal steps were under way to secure geographical protection for Taramundi’s Cuchillería and gave a timeframe of “two to three months” for the next procedural stages. An Indicación Geográfica Protegida of this kind would provide legal protection of origin and set requirements for production standards, documentation and shared governance; responsibility initially lies with regional and national registration bodies, with further checks required for EU registration.
Taramundi is considered a historic centre of knife and cutlery production in western Asturias; around ten professional knife-makers are listed in the regional register. Craft businesses see the label as a way to protect themselves against imitations and secure higher market prices through proof of origin, but also point to the additional compliance and documentation burden. The regional government also intends to support accompanying measures, including workshop modernisation, marketing assistance and an increase in funding for crafts this year.
Formally, registration remains an ongoing administrative process and can only be assessed conclusively once the relevant applications and specifications have been officially published. Statements by the government and media involved reflect the announced plans; the government in Oviedo is still defining the specific criteria for “Maestros artesanos” accreditation and the final specification for the Indicación Geográfica Protegida.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).