Quality Control Technology and Standardization of
Geographical Indications
Yun, Z. Y. Li, Z. P.*
Zhang, Y. Tan, Q. Q.
China National Institute of
Standardization, Beijing 100191, China
Abstract: As an important component of intellectual property, the geographical
indications is crucial for socioeconomic development, trade investment, and the
protection of cultural heritage, and is highly valued in China. Due to the
geographical complexity of geographical indications, there are still a series
of unresolved issues in the exploration of characteristic quality and
high-level protection of geographical indication products. This article focuses
on the development of characteristic quality protection technologies for
geographical indication products, discusses the application of modern
analytical technology in the quality mining of geographical indication
products, the new prospects and challenges of omics technology in product
identity confirmation, the differences in practice of geographical indication
product quality assurance system, and the practical exploration of
classification and grading of production areas at home and abroad. Facing
opportunities and challenges, China has begun to adopt standardized concepts
and methods to solve problems, promote the revision of national standards
through the establishment of specialized technical committee institutions, cooperate
with international organizations to promote international protection and
development, focus on science and technology forums to promote high-quality
industrial development, and jointly promote the internationalization and
high-quality development of geographical indication products.
Keywords: geographical
indications; quality control; technology; standards; international cooperation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3974/geodp.2023.04.11
CSTR: https://cstr.escience.org.cn/CSTR:20146.14.2023.04.11
1 Research Background
Since the reform and opening up, the Chinese
government has attached great importance to the protection of geographical
indications. Chinese goverment clearly pointed out that ??strengthening the
protection of intellectual property rights is the most important content of
improving the protection of property rights, and also the greatest incentive
for improving China's economic competitiveness??[1]. Geographical
indications, as an important type of intellectual property recognized by the
international community and confirmed by China??s Civil Code, have become a ??scarce
resource?? for market competition, a ??critical move?? for promoting the development
of regional characteristic economies, an ??important force?? for promoting diplomacy
and foreign trade, and a ??vivid carrier?? for protecting traditional cultural
heritage[2]. Protecting geographical indications is of great
significance for promoting economic and social development, promoting trade and
investment, and protecting cultural heritage.
Over the years, the Chinese government
has been continuously strengthening its efforts in the protection of
geographical indications, and has successively formulated and implemented the ??14th
Five-Year Plan for the Protection and Application of Geographical Indications??[3],
??Measures for the Protection of Foreign Geographical Indication Products??[4],
??Administrative Measures for the Use of Unified Official Sign for Geographical
Indications (Trial Implementation)??[5], etc., and has taken various
effective measures to improve the quality and market competitiveness of
protected products. In terms of increasing product added value and farmers??
income, safeguarding consumers?? rights and interests, promoting local economic
development, and protecting traditional cultural heritage, the importance of
geographical indication protection is increasingly prominent.
2 Problem
Statement
The core of high-level protection of geographical
indications is to safeguard distinctive qualities and highlight the ??original
flavor??. The reasons for the long-standing reputation of French champagne and
Italian Parma ham are closely related to the use of comprehensive quality display,
whole-process process management, and full-body quality monitoring, as well as
the application of quality technology control methods such as ??technical
regulations?Cinspection and testing?Cquality monitoring-property protection??[6,7].
Compared with the EU mutual guarantee products, the popularity and influence of
China??s mutual guarantee products are obviously insufficient, especially in
terms of insufficient characteristic degree of product quality, weak control
degree, insufficient display degree, and low traceability credibility. It
cannot effectively meet the requirements of mutual recognition protection
between China and the EU[8]. Using national quality infrastructure
(NQI) such as standards, metrology, inspection and testing, certification and
accreditation to support product quality assurance, improvement, transmission,
and trust has become a common practice of international organizations such as
the World Trade Organization, the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization, and developed countries such as the European Union. Prioritizing
the collaborative integration of geographical indication product characteristic
quality control technology with NQI elements plays a leading and key role in
implementing high-level geographical indication protection.
3 Key Technologies
for the Protection of the Characteristic Quality of Geographical
Looking at the development of geographical
indication protection technology in China and the world else, there are four
key areas that require attention in the current development of geographical
indication protection technology.
3.1 Application of Modern
Analytical Technology in the Quality Mining of Geographical Indication Products
Modern analytical techniques have been widely
applied in quality mining, and standardized methods for quantitative evaluation
of characteristic quality need to be developed. Comprehensive utilization of
multiple modern analytical techniques to comprehensively analyze quality
characteristics from the aspects of appearance, texture, flavor, nutrition, etc.,
is a recognized and effective method for characteristic quality mining. Due to
the complexity of production areas, climate environments, and processing
techniques, scientific characterization of the differences between the
commonality within the geographical indication product group and the
non-geographical indication product group has become a technical bottleneck for
characteristic quality mining and characterization. The University of
California, Davis (UC-Davis) and the International Organization for
Standardization Food Technical Committee Sensory Technology Subcommittee
(ISO/TC34/SC12) have conducted certain explorations on difference evaluation
methods, such as developing threshold determination in sensory perception
response and interaction, and applying linear scaling to quantify sensory
characteristics. Domestic research has also been conducted in the areas of
perceptual intensity quantification and evaluation method establishment.
Overall, China has not yet formed a standardized evaluation technology for
characteristic quality difference quantification, and there is still a strong
subjectivity in characteristic quality screening and evaluation. Establishing a
standardized evaluation technology for characteristic quality based on
difference degree, taking into account characteristics, sensitivity, stability,
and applicability, can effectively promote the confirmation and scientific
control of geographical indication product characteristic quality.
3.2 Prospects and Challenges
of Omics Technology in Product Identity Confirmation
The
development and application of omics technology is in the ascendant, and the
comprehensive application of multi-omics fingerprint maps for product identity
confirmation is the trend of the times[9]. The omics identity fingerprint
characterization technology, represented by elemental, metabolomic, and genomic
fingerprints, has achieved significant development at home and abroad and has
been applied in various products[10]. Elemental composition and
stable isotopic carbon ratio fingerprints can accurately reflect the soil
information and climate characteristics of product origin, but the formation
mechanism and spatiotemporal variation law of elemental composition
characteristics need to be further studied. Genomic fingerprinting technology
is recommended by the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties
of Plants for the identification of varieties and individuals, and method standards
have been developed for products such as rice and corn. However, at present, most
geographical indication products in China still lack DNA fingerprinting variety
identification methods. Metabolomic fingerprint maps include information such
as geographical, technological, and variety characteristics, but there are
still significant deficiencies in database completeness and accuracy. No single
omics tool can perfectly solve the problem of product identity confirmation,
and it is still necessary to innovate data integration algorithms, improve
classification modeling techniques, and enhance the reliability and accuracy of
model recognition.
3.3 Establishing a Quality
Assurance System for Geographical Indications
Establishing
a distinctive quality assurance system is a common practice abroad[11].
Quality control and verification technology still have much room for
improvement. Quality control and verification are key links to achieve a
quality assurance system for geographical indication products. France??s Contet
cheese has established a quality control procedure and control points for the
entire chain from dairy farming, fresh milk collection, sterilization and fermentation,
cheese ripening, packaging and warehousing, inspection and testing, achieving
full-chain control. Indonesia??s Jintaman Coffee has established a multi-party
collaborative quality control and verification system including producer
self-inspection, local association verification, and government organization
supervision, effectively ensuring the regional characteristics of the product
and achieving super brand effect and high premium. China proposed the
establishment of a quality assurance system for geographical indication products
in 2005, but so far there is not much research on distinctive quality control
and verification points, procedures, methods, etc., based on the association of
production areas, which cannot effectively guide the strict protection of the
distinctive quality of geographical indication products. Compared with France
and other EU countries, there is still much room for improvement.
3.4 Exploration of the
Practice of Classification and Grading of Geographical Indication Origins
The
classification and grading of production areas has been explored in individual
products, but a systematic and scientific classification and grading model and
method have not yet been formed. EU countries have earlier explored the
classification and grading system of product production areas. For example, the
Bordeaux Wine Association of France divides the Bordeaux wine production area
into three major production areas: the Left Bank of Bordeaux, the Between Two
Seas, and the Right Bank of Bordeaux[12]. The Left Bank production
area is divided into smaller production areas such as M??doc, Pauillac, Margaux, etc.,
and the classification of the classified famous chateaus is carried out within
the smaller production areas. The classification and grading system shows
consumers the different styles and diverse qualities of Bordeaux wine. Some
products in China have begun to explore the classification of production areas,
but due to the lack of research on production area classification technology
and unclear classification basis, there is confusion in classification. Taking
Pu??er tea as an example, some are divided into three major production areas:
Xishuangbanna, Pu??er, and Lincang, while some add Baoshan as a fourth major
production area, and some add Yiwu and Menghai as six major production areas,
which do not fully cover the 11 states determined by local governments. At
present, there is a severe lack of research on the background, factors,
methods, etc. of the classification and grading of geographical indication
products at home and abroad, and there is no theoretical model or systematic
method for reference.
4
Geographical Indication Protection and Standardization Practice
Facing
opportunities and challenges, China has begun to apply standardized concepts
and methods to seek solutions. The China National Institute of Standardization
(CNIS), affiliated to the State Administration for Market Regulation, is a
social welfare research institution that conducts basic, general, and
comprehensive standardization research and services. The China National
Institute of Standardization (CNIS) Agricultural Food Standardization Research
Institute has been engaged in the research of geographical indication
protection for more than 15 years. Relying on national science and technology
support projects, quality inspection public welfare industry research projects,
and former quality inspection administration science and technology plans, it
has led the research work on potential geographical indication resource
evaluation, geographical indication product characteristic quality protection,
and geographical indication origin identification technology methods. The
project results have produced significant social and economic benefits. The
following practices have been carried out in the standardization of
geographical indication protection.
4.1 Establishing a Special
Agency to Promote the Revision of National Standards for Geographical
Indications
On
December 2, 2020, the National Standards Commission has re-established the
National Technical Committee on Intellectual Property and Knowledge Management
of Standardization Administration of China, mainly responsible for the
formulation and revision of national standards in the field of geographical
indication product protection. The Secretariat is led by China National
Institute of Standardization, and the China National Intellectual Property
Administration is responsible for daily management and business guidance.
As of October 2023, 147 national standards for the protection of
geographical indications have been formulated and published, including 1 basic
general standard and 146 product standards; 11 national standards have been
newly established, including 2 basic general standards. The Identification of
Geographical Indication?DClassification and Codes of Products (GB/T 43583??2023)
has been released and implemented, and the Geographical Indications?DBasic Terms
is about to undergo technical review. There are 9 product standards, including ??Quality
Requirements for Geographical Indication Products?DWuliangye Liquor??, which are
under development. The foreign language version of the standards will be formulated
simultaneously in the future.
The plan for the revision of 9 product standards, including the ??Quality
Requirements for Geographical Indication Products?DBaoshan Xiaoli Coffee??, is currently being publicly solicited for
comments nationwide. The Geographical Indication Sub Technical Committee of the
National Knowledge Management Standardization Technical Committee has been publicly
soliciting suggestions for the revision of national geographical indication
standards from the society year by year, with priority given to geographical
indication products that have been included in the ??Agreement on the Protection
and Cooperation of Geographical Indications between China and the European
Union??. According to the situation of soliciting standard projects, the
necessity and feasibility of project approval will be discussed and voted on.
The urgent needs will be prioritized, and the implementation will be carried
out step by step. The dynamic adjustment will be made, and the project plan
application will be reported to the National Standards Committee in a timely
manner.
4.2 International Cooperation
The
China National Institute of Standardization is responsible for the work of the
Chinese Secretariat of the International Organization for Geographical
Indication Network (oriGIn). oriGIn is the first international organization for
the protection of geographical indications producers, established in Geneva,
Switzerland, in July 2003. Its members include more than 350 geographical
indication management institutions and associations from more than 40
countries, representing nearly 10 million geographical indication producers
worldwide[13]. The Chinese Secretariat of oriGIn is the only
permanent office of the International Organization for Geographical Indication
Network in China, dedicated to building a communication platform for its
members in China, sharing successful experiences in the production, management,
protection and operation of geographical indication products at home and
abroad, promoting international bilateral or multilateral mutual recognition of
geographical indication product protection, promoting the sustainable
development of Chinese geographical indication product protection, and
providing more solutions and possibilities for addressing the challenges faced
by geographical indication development and protection. Through exchanges, it
helps and promotes more Chinese geographical indication enterprises, industry
associations, e-commerce platforms, etc., to join oriGIn, share experiences in
geographical indication protection at home and abroad, and jointly promote the
development of global geographical indications.
China and Europe have
long-term and in-depth cooperation in the field of geographical indications. It
is hoped that Chinese and foreign geographical indications practitioners will
exchange information in depth, maintain close business relations, and promote
the formation of a broad industrial foundation for China-Europe cooperation in
the protection of geographical indications. The China National Institute of
Standardization will help promote cooperation between Chinese and foreign
geographical indication products, promote mutual benefit and win-win results,
and make the geographical indication protection system benefit the broader
public.
4.3
Focusing on the Science and Technology to Promote High-quality Development of
Industry
The
China-EU Geographical Indication Products Expo and the China-EU Geographical Indication
Agreement Forum are international platforms relying on the entry into force of
the China-EU Geographical Indication Agreement, and are important carriers for
trade and cultural exchanges. The theme of the expo is ??Strengthening the protection of geographical indications and
promoting high-quality development of industries??, aiming to promote the trading, technical exchanges, information
interaction, cultural integration and investment promotion of geographical indication
products. The forum is of milestone significance for bridging the interests
between China and Europe and enhancing their influence on the international
stage. At the invitation of the Secretariat of the Organizing Committee, the
China National Institute of Standardization made a keynote speech at the forum,
introducing the development trend of geographical indication protection
technology, the work and achievements in geographical indication protection
technology standards, etc. Against the backdrop of the forum, we propose and
explore new concepts and methods to further promote trade, investment and
entrepreneurship, information interaction, technical exchanges and cultural
integration in the field of Chinese and foreign geographical indication products.
This will not only bring positive promotion to the all-round development of the
geographical indication industry, but also is expected to open up a new
prospect for the protection and promotion of geographical indication products.
The holding of the technology forum will inject new vitality into China-EU
geographical indication industry cooperation, further promote high-quality
development of industries, and help China-EU economic and trade cooperation
enter a new stage of prosperity.
5 Summary
The
protection of the distinctive quality of geographical indication products is a
key link in promoting the development of regional characteristic economy, which
has profound implications for the sustainable development of economic society,
the promotion of international cooperation, and the protection of cultural
heritage. Modern analytical technology, omics technology, quality assurance
system, and classification and grading of production areas are important
components of building a complete protection system for geographical indication
products. This article delves into these aspects in order to provide new ideas
and methods for promoting high-level protection of geographical indication
products. Overall, the research on the technology of characteristic quality
protection of geographical indication products plays a key role in promoting
the high-quality development of the geographical indication industry. However,
there are still shortcomings in China??s research in these areas, and it is
necessary to strengthen basic research, formulate more national standards, and
engage in in-depth cooperation with international organizations to jointly
promote the internationalization and high-quality development of geographical
indication products.
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