source: China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA)
On March 1st, 2021, China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released a notice to approve certain commodities from European Union (EU) like Zivania to be protected as geographical indication (GI) products in China. The EU list of GIs to be protected in China includes Zivania , Českobudějovické pivo, Münchener Bier, Danablu, Cava, Armagnac, Feta, Irish whiskey, Tokaj Aceto balsamico diModena. The notice is vital for further carrying out the Agreement on Geographical Indications between China and European Union.
Before, the European Commission has announced on February 9th the notice concerning the Agreement on China-EU Geographical Indications would come into force on March 1st, 2021. The first batch of 100 Chinese GIs are in Europe under protection. Until now, a total of 110 Chinese GIs are against usurpation and imitation in European Union with securing mutual recognition, bilateral protection and filling applications, and 134 EU GIs are protected in China. CNIPA’s announcement marked a solid step forward for implementing the China-EU Agreement.
Photo: European Commission Website
Within the next four years, China and EU will work together to push forward the technical preparation of the second batch of commodities for the mutual recognition. The list in the Agreement will expand to cover additional 175 GI names from both sides. CNIPA will stick to promote the acceptance, technical review and recognition of these products. The China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement will stipulate high-level protection obligations and will benefit businesses and consumers on both sides.
GIs included in the deal are under high-level protection. It is the first trial for China and EU to cooperate on the use of the official landmarks. CNIPA will expand the publicity of the Agreement to promote the trading of GI products from both sides, and strictly regulate the use of the landmarks in the list, and protect our IPR at overseas. The local at all levels will take advantages of benefits from the deal with CNIPA’s guidance. Besides, China will also provide high-quality service for the foreign distributors to encourage and introduce them to voluntarily use the special landmarks in China. The system of issuing annual report concerning the foreign GI products will be carried out.
CNIPA will further strengthen GIs protection system and deepen the reform of GIs management to push forward high-level and high-quality GIs development. With the strategic planning of government authorities, China will be severely against any forms of usurpation and imitation, especially actions of transliteration, etc. The illegal actions of producing GI products will be supervised according to the law, to ensure the legal rights of various market entities.
