Part II Protecting Geographical Indications under Trademark Law
Regulations
At present, two systems involve the protection of geographical indications in China, the Measures for the Protection of Geographical Indication Products, and the trademark system via registering and protecting geographical indications as collective trademarks or certification trademarks. The legislative work on geographical indications is still in progress.
The original third protection system is to protect agricultural product geographical indications pursuant to the Measures for the Administration of Agricultural Product Geographical Indications. The registration of agricultural product geographical indications under this system has been ceased in March 2022. However, agricultural product geographical indications that have been registered before are still protected by law and now under administration of the CNIPA.
Trademark Law & Implementing Regulations
Trademark Law: adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on August 23, 1982 and came into effect on March 1, 1983; amended for the first time on February 22, 1993; amended for the second time on October 27, 2001; amended for the third time on August 30, 2013; amended for the fourth time on April 23, 2019 and came into effect on November 1, 2019.
Implementing Regulations: promulgated by the State Council on August 3, 2002; amended on April 29, 2014 and came into effect on May 1, 2014.
Other Rules
Rules on the Registration and Administration of Collective Trademarks and Certification Trademarks: promulgated by the CNIPA on December 29, 2023, and implemented on February 1, 2024.
Measures for the Protection of Geographical Indication Products: promulgated by the CNIPA on January 2, 2024, and implemented on February 1, 2024.
Measures for the Administration of Geographical Indications of Agricultural Products: promulgated by the Ministry of Agriculture on December 25, 2007, and implemented on February 1, 2008; amended on April 25, 2019, and implemented on April 25, 2019. In March 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs ceased the registration of geographical indications of agricultural products.
Rules on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products: promulgated by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine on May 16, 2005, and implemented on July 15, 2005.
Measures for the Administration of the Use of Special Symbol for Geographical Indication (Trial): promulgated by the CNIPA on April 3, 2020, and implemented on April 3, 2020.
Conventions
China became a member of the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization on June 3, 1980, the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property on March 19, 1985, the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks on October 4, 1989, the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks on August 9, 1994, the Protocol relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks on December 1, 1995 and the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization on December 11, 2001. China and France signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the Cooperation of Geographical Indications of Agricultural and Food Products between the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the French National Institute of Origin and Quality on November 6, 2019, which was renewed in May 2024. China and the European Union signed the Agreement on Geographical Indication Protection and Cooperation on September 14, 2020, which came into effect on March 1, 2021.
Administration Authorities
The Trademark Office of the CNIPA is responsible for the management and protection of geographical indication products and special symbol throughout the country; it uniformly accepts and examines applications for protection of geographical indication products and approves geographical indication products in accordance with the law.
Local intellectual property bureaus are responsible for the management and protection of geographical indication products and special symbol within their administrative regions.
The CNIPA is responsible for the registration and administration of trademarks in China, as well as the settlement of disputes relating to trademarks.
The CNIPA is responsible for conducting the operational guidance and policing of trademark enforcement, including formulating and guiding standards of trademark enforcement.
State Administration for Market Regulation is responsible for the organization and overall guidance of trademark enforcement.
Geographical Indications
A geographical indication is a sign which indicates a good as originating in certain region, where a specific quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially determined by the natural or human factors of the region.
System I. Protection of Geographical Indication Products
https://www.afdip.com/insights/Articles/TRADEMARK/2025/0722/2122.html
System II. Protecting Geographical Indications under Trademark Law
This is the second system of geographical indication protection. Pursuant to the Trademark Law, geographical indications are registered as collective trademarks or certification trademarks. The protection of geographical indications is achieved through the protection of the exclusive right to the registered certification or collective trademarks.
Registering as Certification or Collective Marks
A geographical indication, indicating a good as originating in certain region where a specific quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to the natural or human factors of the region, can be registered as a collective mark or a certification mark.
Collective marks and certification marks are included in the four types of registered trademarks in China, and the other two are trademarks for goods and service marks.
Collective marks
A collective mark means a distinctive sign registered in the name of a group, association or other organization for the members thereof to use in their commercial activities as indications of their membership in the organization.
Where a geographical indication is registered by an organization as a collective mark, the natural person, legal person or other organization, whose goods meet the conditions for use of the geographical indication, may request to become a member of the organization. The organization shall accept them to be a member, according to its governing rules.
If a natural person or entity has goods that meet the conditions for the use of the geographical indication, but does not require participation in an organization that registers the geographical indication as a collective mark, it may legitimately use the geographical indication, and the organization that registers the geographical indication as a collective mark may not prohibit such use.
Certification marks
A certification mark means a distinctive sign controlled by an organization capable of supervising certain goods or services, and used by entities or individuals outside the organizations for their goods or services to certify the origin, material, manufacture process, quality or other characteristics of the goods or services.
Where a geographical indication is registered as a certification mark, the natural person, legal person or other organization whose goods meet the conditions for use of the geographical indication may request authorization to use the certification mark. The organization that controls the certification mark shall authorize it to use the mark.
Registered Mark & Exclusive Right
A registered collective or certification mark of a geographical indication can be obtained after being approved and registered by the Trademark Office through the registration application procedures.
The registrant of the registered mark have the exclusive right to use the registered trademark as approved for the goods approved to register, which is protected by law.
The exclusive right to use a registered trademark shall be valid for a term of ten years starting from the date of registration, and can be renewed for another ten years before the expiry of the term.
Protection in the Trademark Registration
Not registerable if conflicting with geographical indication
Where a trademark contains a geographical indication of goods in respect of which the trademark is used but the goods does not originate in the region indicated, thereby misleading the public, the trademark is not registerable. However, any trademark that has been registered in good faith shall continue to be valid.
Where wines and spirits use the geographical indication of others registered as certification marks or collective marks to indicate wines and spirits that do not originate from the region indicated by the geographical indication, even if the authentic origin of the goods is also indicated, or translated text is used, or "kind", "model", "form", "category" and other similar expressions are accompanied, thereby misleading the public, such application shall not be registerable. However, any trademark that has been registered in good faith shall continue to be valid.
Prohibited from use if conflicting with geographical indication
Where a trademark contains a geographical indication of goods in respect of which the trademark is used but the goods does not originate in the region indicated, thereby misleading the public, the trademark is prohibited from use. However, any trademark that has been registered in good faith shall continue to be valid.
Where wines and spirits use the geographical indication of others registered as certification marks or collective marks to indicate wines and spirits that do not originate from the region indicated by the geographical indication, even if the authentic origin of the goods is also indicated, or translated text is used, or "kind", "model", "form", "category" and other similar expressions are accompanied, thereby misleading the public, such application shall be prohibited from use. However, any trademark that has been registered in good faith shall continue to be valid.
Opposition if conflicting with geographical indication
Where a prior right owner or any interested party believes that a preliminarily approved trademark application violates the related regulations that geographical indications misleading the public shall not be registered, the owner or party may, within three months from the date of publication of the preliminarily approved trademark application, file an opposition against this preliminarily approved trademark application.
Invalidation if conflicting with geographical indication
Where a prior right owner or any interested party believes that a registered trademark violates the related regulations that geographical indications misleading the public shall not be registered, the owner or party may, within five years from the date of trademark registration, request the Trademark Office to declare the registered trademark invalid.
Trademark Registration Applicants
The trademark applicant of a geographical indication must be authorized by the government at or above the county level or the competent administrative authority in the area indicated by the geographical indication to apply for registration and supervise and manage the geographical indication.
The trademark applicant should be a local non-profit group, association or other organization, generally a social group as a legal person or a public institution as a legal person whose business scope is related to the geographical indication products supervised and used.
Geographical Indications
As a collective mark or certification mark, a geographical indication indicates that a product comes from a certain region, and the specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of the product are mainly determined by the natural or human factors of the region.
The usual form of a geographical indication is generally composed of "a geographical name plus a common name of the product".
To register as a certification mark or collective mark, a geographical indication can be the name of the region indicated by the geographical indication, or other visible signs that can indicate that a product comes from the region. The region does not need to be completely consistent with the current administrative division name and area of the region.
Where multiple wine geographical indications constitute homophones or homographs, but can be distinguished from each other and do not mislead the public, each geographical indication can be applied for registration as a certification mark or collective mark.
Where a collective trademark or certification trademark is applied for with a geographical name of an administrative division above the county level or a geographical name known to the public as a component, the mark shall be distinctive and easy to be identified. Where a mark contains a product name, the designated goods shall be consistent with or closely related to the product name in the trademark; and the reputation of the product shall be closely related to the geographical name. However, marks that harm the public interest shall not be registerable.
Application Documents
The application documents shall include a trademark registration application, which includes information about the applicant, the trademark type being a collective mark or a certification mark, the classifications and names of the goods, the trademark specimen and description, Power of Attorney, and the following materials:
(1) Certification documents of the applicant's identity, including documents of the approved establishment of a public institution or social organization
The applicant for collective trademark registration shall be an organization, which may be an industrial or commercial entity, or an association, industry or other collective organization.
(2) Documents issued by the government or competent authority at or above the county level of the area indicated by the geographical indication to authorize the applicant to apply for registration and supervise and manage the geographical indication
(3) Certification materials stamped with the official seal of the authority to prove the objective existence and reputation of the geographical indication product
The applicant shall provide materials such as public publications and national professional journals that have been published for more than three years and clearly record the name of the geographical indication product to prove the objective existence and reputation of its geographical indication product.
In addition to providing county annals, agricultural annals, product annals, yearbooks, and textbooks, the applicant may also provide materials such as formally published books, national professional journals, and ancient books to prove the objective existence and reputation of its geographical indication product.
(4) Documents and materials related to the division of the geographical area indicated by the geographical indication
The documents include: the geographical area described in the county annals, agricultural annals, product annals, yearbooks, and textbooks; or the geographical area certification documents issued by the government or administrative authority of the region indicated by the geographical indication.
(5) Names and addresses of collective members and use management rules for the collective trademark application for geographical indication
List of collective members for the organization applying for registration of geographical indication as collective trademark, whose members shall come from the region indicated by the geographical indication.
(6) Use management rules of certification trademarks for geographical indication
(7) The specific quality, reputation or other characteristics of the product indicated by the geographical indication, and the description that the specific quality, reputation or other characteristics are mainly determined by local natural and human factors
(8) Certification materials that the geographical indication applicant has the ability to supervise and test the geographical indication
Where the applicant has the inspection and testing capabilities, it should submit the applicant's testing qualification certificate or the local government's certification document on its inspection and testing capabilities, as well as the applicant's list of professional testing equipment and professional testing personnel.
Where the applicant entrusts others to conduct inspection and testing, it should attach the original of the inspection and testing contract signed by the applicant and the inspection and testing qualified institution, and submit the inspection and testing qualification certificate of the inspection and testing institution, as well as the list of testing equipment and testing personnel.
(9) Certification that the geographical indication of a foreigner or foreign enterprise is protected by law in the country of origin
If a foreigner or foreign enterprise applies for registration of a geographical indication collective trademark or certification trademark, it should provide certification that the geographical indication is protected by law in its name in its country of origin.
Use Management Rules
The use management rules of geographical indication as collective trademarks and certification trademarks shall be formulated in accordance with the law, and have binding force on the registrants, collective members and users, which shall include the followings:
(a) the purpose of using the collective trademark or certification trademark;
(b) the quality of the goods using the collective trademark, or the origin, raw materials, manufacturing process, quality or other specific qualities of the goods certified by the certification trademark;
(c) the procedures for using the collective trademark or certification trademark;
(d) the rights and obligations for using the collective trademark or certification trademark;
(e) the responsibilities that the collective members of the collective trademark or the users of the certification trademark shall bear for violating the use management rules;
(f) the inspection and supervision system of the registrant for the goods using the collective trademark or certification trademark.
The use management rules of a certification trademark shall also include the conditions for using the certification trademark.
The use management rules of collective trademarks or certification trademarks shall be publicly announced.
Where the registrant modifies the use management rules, it shall submit an application for change, which shall be examined and approved by the CNIPA and shall take effect from the date of announcement.
Application and Examination
Application
The applicant submits a collective trademark or certification trademark application to the Trademark Office.
If the trademark registration application complies with the relevant regulations and the relevant official fees are paid, the Trademark Office will accept the application and notify the applicant. If the application does not comply with the relevant regulations or the official fees are not paid, the Trademark Office will not accept the application and notify the applicant.
If the application basically complies with the regulations but needs to be rectified, the Trademark Office will notify the applicant to make the rectification. If the applicant makes the rectification on time and the application complies with the regulations after the rectification, the application date will be retained and the application will be accepted. If the rectification is not made within the time limit or it still does not comply with the regulations after the rectification, the Office will not accept it and notify the applicant.
Withdrawal
Before the collective trademark or certification trademark application is approved for registration, the applicant may apply to the Trademark Office to withdraw the registration application. If the withdrawal application complies with the related regulations, the withdrawal will be approved. If the trademark registration application has been approved for registration, or a decision of non-acceptance, refusal or non-approval has been made, the withdrawal application will not be approved.
Decision
Where a trademark registration application is not in compliance with the relevant regulations, the Trademark Office will refuse the application, and notify the trademark registration applicant.
Where a trademark registration application is in compliance with the relevant regulations, the Trademark Office will make a preliminary approval announcement for three months.
When the three-month term from the date of the announcement expires, if no opposition is filed, or the opposition is not justified, the Office will approve the registration, issue the trademark registration certificate, and announce the registration.
If the trademark registration applicant is dissatisfied with the refusal decision of the Trademark Office, it may apply to the Trademark Office for a review within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the decision. If no review application is filed, the refusal decision will take effect.
Opposition
Where any person believes that the preliminary approved trademark is not in compliance with the related regulations, they may, within three months from the announcement date of the preliminarily approved, file an opposition with the Trademark Office.
Where upon examination, the Trademark Office finds that the opposition application meets the acceptance conditions, the Office will accept the application and issue a notice of acceptance to the applicant. If the opposition application does not comply with the regulations, the Office will not accept it and will notify the applicant.
After investigation, verification and examination, if the Trademark Office finds that the opposition is not justified, the Office will make a decision to approve the registration. If the opposition is justified, the Office will make a non-approval decision and notify the opponent and the trademark registration applicant.
If the opponent is dissatisfied with the approval decision of the Office, it or he or she may request the Trademark Office to declare the registered trademark invalid.
If the trademark registration applicant of the trademark is dissatisfied with the non-approval decision of the Office, it may apply to the Trademark Office for a review within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the decision.
If no review application is filed against the non-approval decision of the Office within the time limit, the non-approval decision will take effect.
Review of Refusal
If a trademark registration applicant is dissatisfied with the refusal decision of the Trademark Office, it may apply to the Trademark Office for review within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the decision.
After review, the Trademark Office will make a review decision and notify the applicant.
If an applicant is dissatisfied with the review decision of the Trademark Office, it may institute legal proceedings with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court within thirty days from the date of receipt of the decision. If no lawsuit is filed within the time limit, the review decision will take effect.
Review of Non-Approval
Where the trademark registration applicant of the trademark opposed is dissatisfied with the non-approval decision of the Trademark Office, it may apply for review to the Trademark Office within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the decision.
After review, the Trademark Office will make a review decision and notify the review applicant (i.e. the registration applicant of the trademark opposed) and the original opponent.
If the review applicant (the registration applicant of the trademark opposed) is dissatisfied with the review decision of the Trademark Office, it may institute legal proceedings with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court within thirty days from the date of receipt of the decision. If no lawsuit is filed after the expiration of the time limit, the review decision will take effect.
Invalidation Proceedings
Where the prior rights holder or interested party believes that a registered trademark violates the related regulations, it may, within five years from the date of trademark registration, request the Trademark Office to declare the registered trademark invalid.
After investigation, verification and examination, if the Trademark Office finds that the grounds for invalidation are not justified, the Office will make a ruling to maintain the registered trademark. If the grounds for invalidation are justified, the Office will make a ruling to declare the registered trademark invalid and notify the parties concerned.
If the parties concerned are dissatisfied with the ruling made by the Trademark Office to maintain the registered trademark or declare the registered trademark invalid, they may institute legal proceedings with the Beijing Intellectual Property Court within thirty days from the date of receipt of the ruling. If no lawsuit is filed after the expiration of the time limit, the ruling of the Trademark Office will take effect.
Renewal
Within twelve months before the expiration of the ten-year term of a registered trademark calculated from the date of registration, the registrant may request for renewal.
If no renewal application is completed before the expiration, the registrant will have six-month grace period for renewal, but a late fee must be paid.
If the renewal application is still not filed after the expiration of the grace period, the Trademark Office will remove the registered trademark. If the original registrant wants to continue to own the exclusive right to the trademark, it must re-submit the registration application.
Registrant’s Responsibilities
Management
The registrant of a collective trademark or certification trademark shall perform the following actions to fulfill the trademark management responsibilities and ensure the quality of goods:
(1) Granting collective members to use the collective trademark or grant others to use the certification trademark in accordance with the use management rules;
(2) Timely disclosing the information of collective members or users of the certification trademark and the use management rules;
(3) Checking whether the use behavior of collective members or users of the certification trademark complies with the use management rules;
(4) Checking whether the goods using the collective trademark or certification trademark meet the quality requirements of the use management rules;
(5) Timely canceling the collective trademark use qualifications of the collective members or certification trademark use qualifications of the users, who do not comply with the use management rules, and going through the formalities for such change and recordal.
Maintaining reputation
Collective trademark or certification trademark registrants shall promote and regulate the use of trademarks, enhance the value of trademarks, maintain the reputation of trademarks, and promote the development of specific industries.
Collective trademark or certification trademark registrants, collective members, and users shall strengthen brand building and perform the following duties:
(1) Strengthening self-discipline, establishing product traceability and monitoring mechanisms, formulate risk control plans, and maintaining the trademark brand image and reputation;
(2) Encouraging the adoption or formulation of advanced standards that meet market demands and establishing a good trademark brand image;
(3) Combining local specific resources, exploring the cultural connotation of trademark brands, formulating trademark brand building and development plans, carrying out publicity and promotion, and enhancing the value of trademark brands.
Charging fees
For the purpose of managing and using collective trademarks or certification trademarks, the registrants may charge reasonable fees to collective members or users. The amount of fees, payment methods and payment deadlines shall be negotiated and determined based on the principle of fairness and reasonableness and shall be made public.
Changes
If the members of the collective trademark registrant change, the registrant shall apply to the CNIPA for recordal of change within three months, and the CNIPA shall announce the change.
Licensing
If a certification trademark registrant grants others to use its trademark, the registrant shall report to the CNIPA for recordal within three months after the grant, and the CNIPA shall make the announcement.
Assignment & transfer
When applying for the assignment of a collective trademark or certification trademark, the assignee shall have the corresponding qualifications and comply with the related regulations.
If a collective trademark or certification trademark is transferred, the successor shall have the corresponding qualifications and comply with the related regulations.
Use of Collective or Certification Marks
Requirements for use
Where the special symbol for the geographical indication is used for a geographical indication registered as a collective or certification mark, the Unified Social Credit Code should be marked at the designated position of the special symbol for the geographical indication. Meanwhile the special symbol for the geographical indication and the collective or certification mark should be also used with the trademark registration number.
Collective trademarks
After going through the formalities prescribed by the use management rules for a collective trademark, collective members of the collective trademark can use the collective trademark
Collective members shall not use the collective trademark on goods that do not comply with the use management rules.
Collective trademark registrants shall not license the collective trademark to non-collective members for use.
When using the collective trademark, collective members shall ensure that the goods used meet the quality requirements of the use management rules.
Collective members may use the collective trademark together with their own registered trademarks.
Certification trademark
One who meets the conditions stipulated in the use management rules for the certification trademark may use the certification trademark after going through the formalities stipulated in the use management rules for the certification trademark, and the registrant shall not refuse to handle the formalities requested.
The user shall not use the certification trademark on goods that do not meet the use management rules.
The certification trademark registrant shall not use the certification trademark on its own goods.
When using the certification trademark, the user shall ensure that the goods used meet the quality requirements of the use management rules.
The users may use the certification trademark together with their own registered trademarks.
Prohibited use
Geographical indications registered as certification or collective trademarks shall not be used on goods produced outside the geographical area.
Fair Use
The exclusive right holder of a registered trademark has no right to prohibit the following fair use of a geographical name contained in a collective or certification trademark:
(1) Using in the name of an enterprise;
(2) Using in ingredient lists, packaging bags, etc. to indicate the origin of a product and its raw materials;
(3) Using on goods to indicate the origin or geographical origin;
(4) Objectively indicating the geographical origin in the product details and product attributes of an Internet platform or store;
(5) Other fair use of the geographical name.
Such fair use of a geographical name contained in a collective and certification trademark shall be for the purpose of factual description and in accordance with business practices, and shall not violate other legal provisions.
Where others use the geographical names, product names and other words in collective or certification trademarks related to catering in a factual description manner in special snacks, dishes, menus, window displays, Internet product details, etc., and such use do not mislead the public, it is a fair use that shall not be prohibited by the exclusive right holder of the registered trademark.
As mentioned above, an individual or entity who has not requested to become a member of the organization having registered a geographical indication as a collective mark, may conduct fair use of the geographical indication. Such fair use refers to the fair use of a geographical name, product name or common name of the goods in the geographical indication registered as a collective trademark. The collective trademark shall not be used without authorization.
For the fair use mentioned above, the user shall not have malicious intent or disparage the reputation of the collective or certification trademark, disrupt the market competition order, and damage the legitimate rights and interests of the registrants.
Revocation
If the registrant fails to exercise the rights, resulting in the collective trademark or certification trademark becoming a generic name of the approved goods or not being used for three consecutive years without justifiable reasons, anyone may apply for the cancellation of the registered trademark.
Further Detailed Information
For details about the trademark registration, examination and opposition, please refer to Outline of CN Trademark System_Basics I_ Registering a Trademark by click here.
For details about the cancellation of registered trademarks, please refer to Outline of CN Trademark System_Basics II_Use of Registered Trademarks by click here.
For details about the trademark review and invalidation proceedings, please refer to Outline of CN Trademark System_Basics III_Review and Invalidation Proceedings by click here.
Due Diligence of Administrative Authorities
The CNIPA shall publish the registration information of collective trademarks and certification trademarks in a complete, accurate and timely manner, and provide information query services to the public.
State personnel responsible for trademark registration, administration, and review shall enforce the law impartially, be honest and self-disciplined, be loyal to their duties and provide civilized services.
Local governments or administrative authorities shall reasonably allocate public resources according to the needs of local economic development, strengthen regional brand building through collective trademarks and certification trademarks, and promote the coordinated development of relevant market entities.
Local intellectual property bureau shall support regional brands in obtaining legal protection, guide the registration of collective trademarks and certification trademarks, strengthen the use management, implement strict protection, provide public services, and promote high-quality development.
Where personnel engaged in the registration and administration of collective trademarks and certification trademarks and other personnel who perform public duties neglect their duties, abuse their power, commit malpractice for personal gain, falsify information, handle matters related to the trademark registration, administration and protection in violation of laws and disciplines, accept money or property from the parties concerned, or seek improper benefits, they shall be punished according to law and disciplines. Where a crime is constituted, they shall be held criminal liable according to law.
Recent Statistical Data
2024
Up to the end of 2024, China has cumulatively approved 2,544 geographical indication products, approved 7,402 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, registered 3,510 agricultural product geographical indications, and granted nearly 33,000 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
2023
In 2023, China approved to protect 13 new geographical indication products, approved 201 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, and granted 5842 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
Up to the end of 2023, China has cumulatively approved to protect 2,508 geographical indication products, approved 7277 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, and granted nearly 26398 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
2022
In 2022, China approved to protect 5 new geographical indication products, approved 514 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, and granted 6373 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
Up to the end of 2022, China has cumulatively approved 2495 geographical indication products, approved 7076 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, and granted nearly 23484 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
2021
In 2021, China approved to protect 99 new geographical indication products, with cumulative total of 2490. 477 geographical indications registered were newly approved as collective and certification marks, with a cumulative total of 6562 approved for registration. 17111 business entities were granted to use the special symbol for geographical indication, and the qualifications of 464 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication were revoked.
2020
In 2020, China accepted 10 applications for protection of geographical indication products, approved to protect 6 geographical indication products, approved 765 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, and granted 1052 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
Up to the end of 2020, China has cumulatively approved to protect 2391geographical indication products, approved 6085 geographical indications registered as collective and certification marks, and granted 9479 business entities to use the special symbol for geographical indication.
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