In line with the State Council's plan to align with international economic and trade rules and promote institutional openness in the China (Shanghai) Free Trade Zone, the Lin-gang Special Area Administration and the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration jointly released the Manual for the Application of Protection for Foreign Geographical Indications in China on Aug 29.

The manual offers a comprehensive outline of the legal framework, application procedures, technical review and approval, objection handling, and supervision management concerning the protection of geographical indications (GIs). It acts as a user-friendly resource for rights holders to gain a thorough understanding of the regulations governing GI protection.

According to the Shanghai Intellectual Property Administration, it will work with the Lin-gang Special Area Administration to publicize specific processing requirements and procedural documents for foreign GI protection applications in China through various channels. It also encourages foreign GI product distributors in the Lin-gang Special Area to apply for and use the Chinese GI special logo.

A representative from the Lin-gang Special Area's administration for market regulation highlighted the importance of GIs as a vital form of intellectual property that promotes regional economic development. The manual was made to provide comprehensive guidance to foreign GI rights holders, enabling them to safeguard their interests and protect consumer rights effectively.

Moving forward, the Lin-gang Special Area will integrate high-quality resources to support the entry of foreign GI products into China and facilitate the diversified development of related industrial clusters to enhance its business environment.