100 European geographical indications to be protected in China by end 2017
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS IN CHINA
Protection for 100 European geographical indications in China, as well as for 100 Chinese geographical indications in Europe, will be achieved by end 2017 by a new bilateral agreement between the European Union and China.
The European Union and China have concluded a bilateral agreement that will result in the protection of 100 European geographical indications in China and 100 Chinese geographical indications in the European Union by the end of 2017.
The publication of the two lists of geographical indications on 2 June 2017 triggers the procedure for the protection of the listed products against imitations and usurpations. Interested parties now have two months to file observations on the products and raise objections with the EU or Chinese authorities.
Cooperation between the European Union and China on geographical indications began over 10 years ago, leading to the protection in 2012 of 10 geographical indication names on both sides, including Italy’s Grana Padano and Prosciutto di Parma.
24 further Italian geographical indications are included in the new agreement:
| Aceto balsamico di Modena | Brunello di Montalcino | Mozzarella di Bufala Campana |
| Asiago | Chianti | Parmigiano Reggiano |
| Asti | Conegliano – Valdobbiadene – Prosecco | Pecorino Romano |
| Barbaresco | Dolcetto d’Alba | Prosciutto di San Daniele |
| Bardolino Superiore | Franciacorta | Soave |
| Barolo | Gorgonzola | Taleggio |
| Brachetto d’Acqui | Grappa | Toscano/a |
| Bresaola della Valtellina | Montepulciano d’Abbruzzo | Vino nobile di Montepulciano |
The bilateral agreement between the European Union and China on the protection of geographical indications is splendid news for Italian quality food and drink producers, for whom China and other far eastern countries are booming markets. Italy is the European Union member state with the highest number of geographical indications for food products recognised under European Union Law: 291 food products and 523 wines.
A bilateral agreement between the European Union and South Korea entered into force in July 2011 for the protection of 60 EU geographical indications, including 16 from Italy.
The possibility of reaching a similar bilateral agreement with Japan by end 2017 was discussed during a recent visit to Brussels of the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
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