Brussels, 05/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Commissioner Ciolos wants to pursue the launch and conclusion of a much more extensive bilateral agreement with China in 2013.
The mutual protection project launched in 2007 for renowned food products in the EU and China has now been completed. In a press release published on 30 November, the Commissioner for agriculture, Dacian Ciolos, stated that, “The EU and China have rich traditions in the production of quality products, and the GI system is a good way of highlighting these regional traditions to consumers. China is a key future export market for EU food products. The completion of the 10+10 is an important step in the process towards a better protection in China of EU Geographical Indications for agricultural products and foodstuffs”. Ciolos, promoted the project during a trip to China in 2010, where he visited the Longjing tea production site and added that, “We are now looking to build on this success through negotiating a broader bilateral agreement on GIs, which we hope to conclude in the course of 2013”.
The ten renowned European products registered in the official AQSIQ Chinese GI register are the following cheeses Comté, Roquefort (France), Grana Padano (Italy), West Country Farmhouse Cheddar, White Stilton Cheese/Blue Stilton Cheese (United Kingdom), olive oils from Priego de Córdoba and Sierra Mágina (Spain), Prosciutto di Parma ham (Italy), dried fruits Pruneaux d'Agen (France) and Scottish Farmed Salmon (United Kingdom). Ten Chinese indications have been added to the EU's IG register: Pinggu Da Tao peaches, Yancheng Long Xia crayfish, Zhenjiang Xiang Cu rice vinegar, Dongshan Bai Lu Sun asparagus, Jinxiang Da Suan garlic, Longjing Cha tea, Guanxi Mi You honey pomelos, Shaanxi ping guo apples, Lixian Ma Shan Yao yams and Longkou Fen Si vermicelli/noodles. (EH/transl.fl)