12/11/2020 (Agence Europe) – MEPs backed the EU-China agreement on the protection of geographical indications on 11 November, with 645 votes in favour, 22 against and 18 abstentions. They follow on from the agreement signed between the two parties on 14 September last (see EUROPE 12559/1). This aims to protect 100 European geographical indications in China and, similarly, 100 Chinese geographical indications in the EU against usurpation and imitation. Products such as ‘Champagne’ or ‘Polska Wódka’ are included in the list of goods that must be given a high level of protection on the Chinese market. Products such as ‘Pixan Dou Ban’ (bean paste) or ‘Anqiu Da Jiang’ (Anqiu ginger) will be subject to the same conditions on the European market.
The agreement provides for the extension of the list of 175 products on both sides within 4 years of the entry into force of the text. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)