Europe has signed an agreement with China an agreement that protects 100 European geographical indications in the Asian country, its entry into force, of the 12 are Spanish. At the fourth year of application, the protection extends to 175 denominations and geographical indications, of the 36 are Spanish.
This bilateral agreement implies the protection against imitations and usurpation of 100 indications in China, for food and beverages with appellations of origin or protected geographical indications (PGI). Among that hundred are 8 wines (the denominations of origin Rioja, Cava, Catalunya, La Mancha, Valdepeñas, Jerez, Navarra and Valencia), 2 of olive oil (the protected designations of origin Sierra Mágina (Jaén) and Priego de Córdoba (Córdoba), 1 of spirits (the protected geographical indication Brandy de Jerez) and 1 of cheeses (the Manchego Cheese designation of origin).
And it is that the Chinese market is a great potential for the agri-food sector, including that of wines, at a time when it is crucial to open markets. Economic development, urban development and growth, especially in the middle class in China, have meant a change in the demand for food in the Asian country.
More protection in four years
Once the agreement enters into force, a list of 12 Spanish indications will be protected in China. By the fourth year of application, it will be extended to 36. This list includes:
- Oil from Bajo Aragón, Ham and Paleta de Teruel (not Iberian), and wines from Somontano and Cariñena.
- Valencian Citrus, Jijona and Turrón nougat from Alicante, and Alicante and Utiel-Requena wines.
- Antequera, Baena, Estepa, Sierra de Cazorla, Sierra de Segura oils; the wines of Málaga and Manzanilla de Sanlúcar; Iberian ham and shoulder, Los Pedroches and Jabugo (supraautonomic), as well as Vinagre de Jerez.
- Saffron from La Mancha and Montes de Toledo and Campo de Montiel oils, in addition to Jumilla wine (its production area is also in Murcia).
-Wines of Bierzo, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Toro and Guijuelo (ham and Iberian shoulder, suprautonomic).
-Hamón Dehesa de Extremadura
-Wines of Empordá, Penedés and Priorat, as well as Siurana (oil).
-Jumilla (wine, supra-autonomous denomination, since its production area is also in Albacete).
-Mahón-Menorca cheese (cheese)
-Rías Baixas wine (wine)
-Pacharán Navarro (spirit)
