The European Union and China on Monday signed a bilateral agreement toprotect geographical indications (GI), a label used on a product to specifyits origin.
The agreement will protect 100 European GIs and as many Chinese GIs in theEU from usurpation and imitation.
“The EU list of GIs to be protected in China includes iconic GI productssuch as Cava, Champagne, Feta, Irish whiskey, Munchener Bier, Ouzo, PolskaWódka, Porto, Prosciutto di Parma and Queso Manchego,” said an EUstatement.
“Among the Chinese GI products, the list includes for example Pixian DouBan (Pixian Bean Paste), Anji Bai Cha (Anji White Tea), Panjin Da Mi(Panjin rice) and Anqiu Da Jiang (Anqiu Ginger),” it added.
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The agreement is expected to enter into force in 2021. Four years later,some 175 more GIs from both sides will be included to the agreement.
“I am proud to see this agreement getting one step closer to its entry intoforce, reflecting our commitment to work closely with our global tradingpartners such as China,” said Janusz Wojciechowski, EU commissioner foragriculture and rural development.
