More Jiangsu agricultural products recognized in EU-China GI system

2021-04-19 13:41:00

Jiangsu has a second batch of products recognized in the Chinese geographical indications system now also under protection in the EU.

The three specialties on the first protection list with 100 products are Nanjing’s Salted Duck, Xinghua’s Green Onion and Pizhou’s Garlic. Now they are joined by winners in the second batch including Yuahua Tea, Yangcheng Lake hairy crab, Dongting Biluochun, a famous green tea grown in the Dongting mountain region, Xuyi County’s crawfish, Yanghe spirit, and Zhenhu embroidery. The second GI list is set to go through protection procedures within the next four years.

A GI not only signals a link between a product and its specific place of origin but also means unique production methods and distinguishing qualities. In 2019, the annual output value of GI products in Jiangsu exceeded 200 billion yuan.

GI administrators, industrial organizations and leading enterprises in Jiangsu have strengthened cooperation to bring a growing number of unique products under the GI recognition system, said Xu Jidong, director of the Jiangsu Provincial Green Food Office. The coastal province now boasts 91 GI products and 349 GI trademarks, ranking among the best in China.

GI is also an important type of intellectual property right. The bilateral agreement between China and the EU on GI that has already taken effect will further deepen the economic and trade ties, said an official of the Industrial Promotion Department of the Intellectual Property Office of Jiangsu Province. Europe is the birthplace of the intellectual property system, and this GI program can promote both sides to expand partnership on intellectual property protection in more fields.