EU-China Agreement to Protect Authenticity of PGI and PDO Products

Spanish wines, cheeses and olive oils are included in the initial list of 200 products.

An eagerly awaited bilateral EU-China agreement has officially entered into force, protecting around 200 geographical indications in those territories, 100 in each. Of those in the EU, 12 are products from Spain with Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) and Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) quality seals.

They are wines and spirits (Rioja, Cava, Cataluña, La Mancha, Valdepeñas, Jerez, Navarra, Valencia, Brandy de Jerez); and olive oils and cheese: Sierra Mágina, Priego de Córdoba and Manchego cheese.

According to the European Commission, this agreement seeks to "protect against imitation and usurpation, providing reciprocal trade benefits as well as introducing consumers to guaranteed, quality products on both sides." The agreement was first reached in November of 2019.

This list of protected products is expected to expand over the next 4 years to include another 175 geographical indication products from both territories. This includes another 36 products from Spain, among them olive oils from Antequera, Bajo Aragón, Baena, Estepa, Sierra de Cazorla, Sierra de Segura, Siurana, Montes de Toledo and Campo de Montiel; wines from Alicante, Bierzo, Empordá (Ampurdán), Jumilla, Málaga, Penedés, Priorat, Rías Baixas, Ribera del Duero, Rueda, Somontano, Toro, Utiel-Requena and Cariñena; ham and other charcuterie: Dehesa de Extremadura, Guijuelo, Jabugo, Jamón de Teruel/Paleta de Teruel y Los Pedroches; and other products such as turron from Alicante, Mahón-Menorca cheese, sherry vinegar and saffron from La Mancha. 
There is considerable scope for growth by European food and beverage providers in China, which was the third largest importer of EU agri-food products in 2020. Moreover, Chinese consumers prefer high-quality, authentic products from Europe, which is very positive for Spanish businesses looking to expand their foothold in the country.