The Council of the European Union made a decision on the 20th local time to authorize the formal signing of the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement.

This is the first significant bilateral trade agreement signed between the EU and China.  It will ensure that 100 EU agri-food GIs such as Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Languedoc wine, Polska Wodka or Elia Kalamatas get protection on the Chinese market.  Likewise 100 Chinese products will be protected in the EU, thereby ensuring mutual respect of the best of both agricultural traditions. 

Four years after its entry into force, the scope of the agreement will expand to cover an additional 175 GI names from both sides.  The agreement also includes a mechanisum to add more geographical indications thereafter.

Negotiations on the China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement began in 2011 and lasted for 8 years.  On November 6, 2019, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan and EU Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan jointly announced the conclusion of negotiations on the China-EU Geographical Indication Protection and Cooperation Agreement.  Subsequently, China and Europe began to perform the relevant procedures for the formal signing of the agreement.

                                              From CNIPA

July 15th, 2020