Guizhou teas recognized by EU as geographical indications

According to a bilateral agreement signed between China and the European Union (EU) on Sept 14, Fenggang zinc selenium tea and Duobei tea -- from Southwest China's Guizhou province -- were listed among 100 products to be given Chinese geographical indication or GI status, affording them protection in the EU.

A GI is a distinctive label used on products that have a specific geographic origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are specifically due to that origin.

Fenggang zinc selenium tea and Duobei tea are representatives of Guizhou's green tea, which was selected as Agro-product Geographical Indication by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in 2017.

The agreement took eight years to put together and is the first comprehensive and high-level international geographical indication agreement signed by China.

It covers such goods as alcohol, tea, agricultural products and food, as well as geographical indications representing China's traditional culture, such as Xuan paper and Sichuan figured satin.

It is the first time that the EU had included such products in its geographical indication agreement.

The products included in the agreement can be protected by China and EU's laws, and also use each other's official geographical indication marks. The agreement will allow China's products to be recognized by EU consumers and help promote their export to the EU.