Anji white tea, Panjin rice, Shanxi vinegar, Parma ham, Portuguese green wine... On September 14, with the sign of the "Agreement on the Protection and Cooperation of Geographical Indications between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the European Union", these geographical indication products indicating the place of origin will usher in a broader market. What role does the “China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement” play in promoting the protection of geographical indications, and how will it promote economic development? At the Sino-European Geographical Indications Agreement seminar held recently, representatives from Chinese and foreign government departments and producers and operators of geographical indication products gathered together to bring insights into the follow-up implementation of the Agreement.
Geographical indication is an important type of intellectual property. In order to strengthen the protection and cooperation of geographical indications between China and Europe, and promote the trade of geographical indication products, China and the EU initiated the negotiation of the China-EU Geographical Indication Agreement in 2011. After eight years and 22 rounds of formal negotiations and multiple rounds of informal consultations, it ended at the end of 2019. Since then, China and the EU have each performed legal procedures authorized to sign. On September 14 this year, the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement was officially signed.
"For a long time, China and the EU have maintained a good cooperative relationship in the field of intellectual property rights. China and the EU have carried out a large number of in-depth and pragmatic cooperation in the fields of patents, trademarks, geographical indications, etc., and have achieved positive and fruitful results. The signing of the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement is another milestone in China-EU cooperation in the protection of intellectual property rights. It fully demonstrates that China and the EU attach great importance to intellectual property work, and also demonstrates China’s firm determination to protect intellectual property rights, including geographical indications." The person in charge of the Intellectual Property Protection Department of the China National Intellectual Property Administration stated that in the next step, CNIPA will vigorously promote the China-EU Geographical Indication Agreement to the industry, step up the identification and protection of the products of the China-EU Geographical Indication List, and implement the system construction and other measures including supervision of the agreement, and work with all parties to implement the agreement.
"In the European Union, the protection of geographical indications is included in the relevant EU regulations. Thirty years ago, the European Union had requirements for the protection of agricultural products and food-related geographical indications, and more than 4,800 geographical indications have been registered and protected. The EU-China Geographical Indications Agreement mainly provides for the protection of geographical indications and the list of mutual recognition of geographical indications. It will provide a high level of protection for the geographical indications of both parties. It is a landmark agreement." Agricultural Counsellor, EU Delegation to China Peng Daming said that in the next step, the European Union will follow the principle of high-level protection, and implement the content of the agreement by preventing the production of products that are not native to the location indicated by the geographical indication or that do not meet the relevant specifications, and strengthening law enforcement cooperation.
"The EU-China Geographical Indication Agreement is the first comprehensive and high-level bilateral agreement on the protection of geographical indications signed by China with foreign countries, and it is of great significance. For consumers, the products protected by geographical indications are guaranteed in quality; and could bring a high-quality shopping experience. For companies, the way to obtain geographical indication protection will be more convenient and lower in cost, which is conducive to their own development; for the countries, the signing of the Agreement demonstrates China’s attached great importance to the openness and intellectual property protection, and is conducive to sustainable economic development.” Li Ming, director of the Treaty and Law Department of the Ministry of Commerce of China, expressed the hope that through the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement, to further develop the effect of geographical indication protection and the products’ potential, and let the products well known throughout the country and even the world.
As a member of the European Union, Italy has always attached great importance to the protection of geographical indications. "Since 1993, Italy has begun to protect geographical indications on a global scale. Even before the formation of the European Union system, we have established a very detailed recognition procedure for the protection of geographical indications. The protection of geographical indications is of great significance for promoting the economic and cultural development of Italy. This Agreement includes more than 100 geographical indication products from Italy, which will promote high-level protection of geographical indications, so that consumers can eat and use genuine and high-quality products." Deputy Director of Economic and Commercial Office of the Italian Embassy in China Chief Minister Ou Jining said that afterwards, Italy will actively share experience in the legislation and practical operation of geographical indications to promote the further implementation of the Agreement.
