In July 2026, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) released three major announcements within just one week. El Salvador, the Eurasian Patent Organization (EAPO), and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic have acceded to the Geneva Act of the Hague System, with respective effective dates of October 7, October 10 and October 14, 2026. As a result, the jurisdictions covered by the Hague System have expanded to 102, opening up three key foreign‑trade markets: Central America, Eurasia and Southeast Asia.

Reinforced Core Advantages of the Hague System

Administered by WIPO, the Hague System is the international registration system for industrial designs. Its greatest value lies in one single application, one working language, one set of fees and multi‑jurisdictional protection.

Enterprises only need to file one international application with WIPO to obtain design protection in multiple contracting parties simultaneously, substantially cutting down time and costs for cross‑border IP deployment. These benefits will be further amplified following the latest expansion.

Accession Details and Effective Dates for the Three New Participants

EAPO’s Accession: The Most Notable Benefit from This Expansion

EAPO is an inter‑governmental regional organisation that administers the Eurasian patent system. Its member states include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

Key changes: ‑ Previously, applicants were required to file separate applications or go through the regional Eurasian industrial design route. ‑ Now, a single designation of EAPO under the Hague System delivers design protection across all eight member states at once.

This eliminates high costs and complex procedures associated with multiple national filings, representing the most practical advantage for businesses brought by this round of expansion.

What This Means for Enterprises

1. Cost reductionOne application covers more markets, which particularly benefits export‑oriented enterprises targeting Central America, Central‑Eurasian and ASEAN markets.

2. Improved efficiencyUnified language, unified fee structure and centralised administration simplify renewal and modification procedures.

3. Strategic head startNew designations will become available once the provisions take effect in October. For design‑intensive sectors such as home goods, electronics, apparel, packaging, auto‑parts and consumer goods, now is the ideal window for advance planning.

4. Two‑way convenienceLocal enterprises may also extend design protection to more than 100 other countries worldwide at lower cost.

Practical Recommendations

‑ Enterprises with existing overseas design protection needs are advised to review target markets promptly and evaluate whether to pursue multi‑territory protection via the Hague System in one go. ‑ Businesses planning market entry into Central America, Eurasia or ASEAN should pay close attention to the accession timeline of El Salvador, EAPO and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. ‑ Companies may assess their existing IP portfolios, formulate new application strategies, and look into specific requirements and fees for EAPO designation.