The EU and China have set the wheels in motion for a ground-breaking deal on protecting traditionally-made food products in overseas markets.

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Officials from both sides are preparing legal protection for 10 products each, including Italy’s Grana Padano cheese and Chinese Longjing tea.


The move is the first EU agreement of its kind with the European Commission applying to register 10 EU food products within China’s geographical indications system.


The plan is to prevent registered foodstuffs being sold in counterfeit-rife China unless they are traditionally-made within their historic home region. China lodged similar applications for 10 traditional Chinese food products to be recognised in the EU.


Brussels hailed the move as “a major step in EU-China co-operation to protect top quality products”.

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The UK’s West Country farm cheddar, Scottish farmed salmon and Spain’s Priego de Córdoba olive oil are also among the products on the EU list.


China is asking for protection for products including Dongshan white asparagus, Guanxi honey pomelo and Jinxiang garlic.

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