Champagne recognized as geographical indication

The French embassy in Beijing held a news conference on May 27 to announce that China has officially recognized the geographical indication of Champagne.

Jean-Luc Barbier, secretary general of Comit Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC), says the recognition will help curb misuse of the geographical indication, and provide wider and more effective protection for Champagne. CIVC is the trade association that represents all the grape growers and houses of Champagne, France.

Barbier says geographical indications signify not only a unique natural environment, but also the producers' talents and wisdom. Champagne, France is one of the world's oldest geographical indications.

Located 150 kilometers east of Paris, Champagne was brewed starting 300 years ago. In 2012, a total of 309 million bottles of Champagne was sold to more than 180 countries in the world.

Carole LY, agriculture counselor of the French Embassy in Beijing, says the recognition shows China's improvement in protecting intellectual property. It is also a guarantee of product quality.

“China and France are both major agriculture countries. Therefore geographical indication is a matter of concern for both countries,” she said. Pei Xiaoying, head of the Science and Technology Department of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, says the recognition gives Chinese consumers a guaranteed product.

The administration announced recognition of Champagne's geographical indication on April 11.

China is the world's fastest increasing Champagne market. In 2012, China imported two million bottles, a 51.8 percent increase compared to 2011.