Optimism as China-EU Geographical Indications Agreement Comes into Effect
(Mar 4th, 2011, Shanghai) March 1st saw the launch of the EU-China bilateral agreement officially on European Geographical Indications (GIs). Eight years in the making, the agreement protects 100 European GIs in China and the same number of Chinese GIs in the European Union against imitation and expropriation. The Chinese wine and spirits space regards this move as a milestone event for Chinese wine in the European market.
A GI identifies a product whose quality, reputation, or other such characteristics relate to its geographical origin. GI designation protects products from counterfeit around the world.
The agreement is the first comprehensive and high-level agreement on GIs signed by China and will further strengthen China-EU economic and trade cooperation, benefiting consumers and businesses in both regions.
The wine and spirits sector features in 11 of China’s 100 GIs. They are Shaoxing Jiu, Helan mountain wine, Huanren ice wine, Yantai wine, Huishui black glutinous rice wine, Jiannanchun spirits, Gaolu spirits, Bandaojin spirits, Shacheng Wine, Moutai spirits and Wuliangye spirits.
The agreement gives a confidence boost to the Chinese GI wineries and will strengthen brand awareness in western markets. Zhang Zhiyan, the Ningxia Xige winery owner, stated: “The formal implementation of the agreement is a matter worthy of the wine industry’s attention. A GI means a passport to the world for Chinese farm products. It increases the added value of GI products brands and gives consumers from all over the world access to better and unique products. ”
To date, Helan Mountain wine has been exported to more than 20 countries globally, including mainstream wine-consuming markets such as Germany, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. In 2019, Xige winery’s iconic brand, “Helan Red”, exported approximately 50,000 bottles to the European market with a price tag of about 25 euros per bottle.
In recent years, the need for a “made in China” presence in the European market has been growing. In 2020, China-EU trade volume reached 649.5 billion U.S. dollars, and China has become the EU’s largest trading partner for the first time. Li Yongjie, Deputy Director of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Ministry of Commerce said that he hopes Chinese companies and local government can make full use of the opportunities brought by the China-EU GI to expand exports.
In total, 53 EU wine GIs are listed in the agreement, an accord the European wine industry has also welcomed. For years, many European wineries’ brands were threatened by counterfeits in the market. The deal protects the intellectual rights protections of the brands.
EU Agriculture and rural development Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski said: “European Geographical Indications products are renowned for their quality and diversity. It is important to protect them at an EU and global level to ensure their authenticity and preserve their reputation. This agreement will contribute to do this, while also strengthening our trading relationship, benefitting our agri-food sector and consumers on both sides.”
Get the full agreement here.
Geographical Indications
France
- Alsace 阿尔萨斯
- Beaujolais 博若莱
- Bordeaux 波尔多
- Bourgogne 勃艮第
- Chablis 夏布利
- Champagne 香槟
- Châteauneuf-du-Pape 教皇新堡
- Côtes de Provence 普罗旺斯丘
- Côtes du Rhône 罗讷河谷
- Côtes du Roussillon 露喜龙丘
- Graves 格拉夫
- Languedoc 朗格多克
- Margaux 玛歌
- Médoc 梅多克
- Pauillac 波亚克
- Pays d’Oc 奥克地区
- PessacLéognan 佩萨克-雷奥良
- Pomerol 波美侯
- Saint-Emilion 圣埃米利永/圣埃米利隆
Germany
- Rheinhessen 莱茵黑森葡萄酒
- Mosel 摩泽尔葡萄酒
- Franken 弗兰肯葡萄酒
Greece
- Σάμος / Samos 萨摩斯甜酒
Hungary
- Tokaj 托卡伊葡萄酒
Italy
- Asti 阿斯蒂
- Barbaresco 巴巴列斯科
- Bardolino Superiore 超级巴多利诺
- Barolo 巴罗洛
- Brachetto d’Acqui 布拉凯多
- Brunello di Montalcino 布鲁内洛蒙塔奇诺
- Chianti 圣康帝
- Conegliano-Valdobbiadene- Prosecco 科内利亚诺瓦尔多比亚德尼 – 普罗塞克
- Dolcetto d’Alba 阿尔巴杜塞托
- Franciacorta 弗朗齐亚科达
- Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 蒙帕塞诺阿布鲁佐
- Toscano / Toscana 托斯卡诺/托斯卡纳
- Vino nobile di Montepulciano 蒙特普齐亚诺贵族葡萄酒
Portugal
- Alentejo 阿兰特茹
- Dão 杜奥
- Douro 杜罗
- Porto / Port / Oporto 波特酒
- Vinho Verde 葡萄牙绿酒
Romania
- Cotnari 科特纳里葡萄酒
Slovakia
- Vinohradníck a oblasť Tokaj 托卡伊葡萄酒产区
Slovenia
- Vipavska dolina 多丽娜葡萄酒
Spain
- Rioja 里奥哈
- Cava 卡瓦
- Cataluña 加泰罗尼亚
- La Mancha 拉曼恰
- Valdepeñas 瓦尔德佩涅斯
- Jerez / Xérès / Sherry 赫雷斯 雪莉 / 雪莉
- Navarra 纳瓦拉
- Valencia 瓦伦西亚
China
- Helanshan Mountain贺兰山东麓
- Huanren Ice Wine桓仁冰酒
- Yantai 烟台
- Shacheng 沙城
