CNIPA Seeks Comments on Measures for the Protection of Products Bearing Foreign Geographical Indications

The China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") has recently enacted and issued the Measures for the Protection of Products Bearing Foreign Geographical Indications (Revised Draft for Comment) (the "Draft for Comment") to seek public comments by March 29, 2019.

The 38 articles of the Draft for Comment are organized into six chapters which include "General Provisions", "Applications and Acceptance Thereof", "Technical Reviews and Approval", "Exclusive Labels and Supervision and Administration". The Draft for Comment explicitly states that, an application for having a type of products with foreign geographical indications protected in China shall be filed by the applicant that has previously received the geographical indications protection for such products in the country or region where they originate and be submitted to the CNIPA as recommended by the competent authority of geographical indications in such country or region of origin. In addition, the Draft for Comment specifies that, applying for the protection of products bearing foreign geographical indications in China requires the submission of relevant written documents prepared in Chinese, including "an application for protection of products bearing foreign geographical indications in China", "the name, address and telephone of the applicant itself and of its liaison in China". The CNIPA will organize the formal examination of the submitted application documents within 30 working days upon receipt thereof.



(Source: http://www.cnipa.gov.cn/gztz/1136142.htm)

Note: The link to the Chinese official website of the document is for your reference.