A Practical Guide to Geographical Indication Protection in China for Foreign Organizations-Based on the Latest 2025 CNIPA Rules

GOMAXGROUP
Dec 10, 2025
5 min read

On 3 December 2025, China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Guideline on the Protection of Foreign Geographical Indications in China (2025).This article distills that official guidance and combines it with frontline practitioner experience to provide overseas associations, government authorities, and exporters with a step-by-step roadmap for obtaining GI protection in China—from zero to certificate issuance.

The original Chinese guideline can be verified on the CNIPA official website.(https://www.cnipa.gov.cn/art/2025/12/3/art_55_202863.html )

1. First Things First: What Types of GIs Can Foreign Entities Apply for in China?

Foreign organizations generally have three legal pathways. You may pursue one or multiple in parallel.

Protection Route	Legal Basis	Certificate Style	Best for
1. Protected Geographical Indication Product (PGI)	Regulation on GI Product Protection	Blue cover “Geographical Indication of the PRC” certificate	Foreign governments/producer groups seeking a national-level identity card for an origin-linked product and to prevent Chinese translations from being hijacked
2. GI Collective/Certification Trademark (GI-TM)	Trademark Law, Art. 16	Standard trademark certificate with “GI” annotation	Associations that already hold GI status in their home country and want China-specific trademark enforcement and licensing
3. Protection under Bilateral Agreements (e.g., China-EU, China-France, China-Thailand)	International treaties	No separate application; automatic protection	Products already listed in official bilateral GI catalogues (e.g., Champagne, Bavarian Beer, Scotch Whisky)

Key takeaway: These routes are not mutually exclusive. The 2025 guideline explicitly confirms that PGI and GI trademarks may run in parallel or sequentially (e.g., “PGI first, trademark later”).

Bulgarian Rose Product — How Foreign Organizations Can Secure Geographical Indication (GI) Protection

2. Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) Route: The 8-Step Process to Obtain China’s “Green Card”

Step 1. Obtain Proof of Protection from Your Home Country

The document must come from the competent GI authority and specify:

Product name
Geographic production area
Protection date
Legal basis

Non-English documents must be authenticated by a Chinese embassy/consulate or via Apostille (China removed local notarization requirements in 2025).

Step 2. Appoint a Qualified Chinese Agent

China requires all foreign GI applicants to appoint a registered trademark agency. Your agent will:

Prepare all Chinese-language filings
Communicate with CNIPA’s GI Product Protection Department
Receive official notices
Handle fees and deadlines
For example, TMRegisterChina, powered by Gomax International, is an officially listed CNIPA agency. Thus it can provide end-to-end trademark registration services and GI protection consultation for foreign governments, associations, and exporters.

Step 3. Prepare the “Five-Document Package”

Geographical area map with coordinates (SHP or KML format for comparison with China’s soil–climate database)
Description of product characteristics and their link with the origin (≤5,000 words; quantified indicators strongly recommended—pH, annual temperature, rainfall, microflora, etc.)
Technical specification (sensory criteria, physicochemical indicators, production/processing/packaging workflow)
Testing report (from a home-country official lab or ILAC-accredited lab within 3 years)
China market risk assessment and anti-counterfeiting plan (new in 2025; explains why protection in China is necessary)

Step 4. File the Application in Chinese

Upload PDF files and originals via the “Foreign GI Product Protection Online Platform,” then pay the RMB 1,500 filing fee within 10 days.

Step 5. Formality Examination (30 Days)

Key checks:

Chinese transliteration/translation cannot conflict with existing GIs
Common corrections involve using a combination of transliteration + translation (e.g., Parma Ham → 帕尔玛火腿) to avoid genericizing the name

Step 6. Technical Examination (90 Days)

A five-member CNIPA expert panel conducts the review:

Two technical specialists
One legal expert
One translator
One market-supervision inspector

Online hearings may be required.Tip: Prepare a 3-minute video showcasing the region (aerial shots + traditional production techniques).

Step 7. Publication & Opposition (2 Months)

Notices are published on:

CNIPA website
Official WeChat account “GI Station”

If opposed, you have 30 days to submit a “use evidence package”: customs export data, China e-commerce pages, media reports, etc.

Step 8. Approval and GI Label Download

Electronic certificate becomes effective immediately
Paper certificate arrives within 15 days
You may then download the official EPS GI logo from the China GI website (scalable; color may not be altered)

3. Geographical Indication (GI) Trademark Route: Three Key Differences from PGI

Item	PGI	GI Collective/Certification Trademark
Eligible Applicant	Foreign government or producer association	A China-registered representative office, or the foreign association itself if authenticated by its embassy
Examination Focus	Origin characteristics + quality link	Distinctiveness + prior rights + whether “geographical name + product name” is generic
Enforcement Mechanism	Administrative enforcement + customs recordation	Civil trademark litigation + customs recordation + e-commerce takedowns

Practical tip: If your GI name is short (e.g., Cognac), secure the PGI certificate first for official recognition, then file a certification trademark using a combined label such as “COGNAC 干邑” for dual protection.

How Foreign Organizations Can Secure Geographical Indication (GI) Protection in China

4. Costs and Timelines (Official 2025 Benchmarks)

Item	Official Fees	Typical Agency Fees	Timeline
PGI	RMB 1,500 filing + 500 publication + 800 certificate	RMB 20,000–40,000 (incl. translation, hearing prep)	8–12 months
GI Trademark	RMB 1,500 per class (10% off for e-filing)	RMB 10,000–20,000	12–18 months (incl. opposition period)
Customs Recordation	Free	RMB 3,000–5,000	20 working days

5. Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

a. Chinese GI Name Already Squatted

Conduct pre-filing searches for:

Trademarks
Corporate names
Domain names

If problematic, consider invalidation or oppositions.

b. “Overly European-Style” Technical Specifications

Chinese reviewers may not understand Latin scientific names.Add a Chinese equivalent (e.g., “Trebbiano Toscano — 白玉霓”) and include high-resolution photos of raw materials.

c. Testing Report Issues

CNIPA only accepts ILAC-accredited reports within 3 years. Ensure all indicators in the technical specification appear in the test report; confirm CNAS mutual recognition where applicable.

4. Representative Office Qualification Problems (GI-TM)

If applying through your China representative office, its business scope must explicitly include “GI protection, licensing, and promotion”—otherwise CNIPA may reject eligibility.

6. After Certification: Four Tasks You Must Not Ignore

Customs Recordation Upload the certificate via the “IPR Protection by Customs” WeChat Mini-Program. Approval typically takes 7 days.
Launch Official Flagship Stores on JD/Tmall GI products may apply for the “GI Flagship Store” green channel; major platforms may waive annual technical service fees.
Submit Annual Use Reports Due 31 March each year. Includes export volumes, enforcement actions, and quality inspection summaries. Failure to submit may lead to suspension of GI label usage.
Join China’s Official Import GI White List Coordinate with the China Chamber of Commerce of Foodstuffs and Native Produce (CFNA) to access official exhibition zones at the China International Import Expo and China Consumer Products Expo.

7. One-Page Flowchart (For Easy Reference)

Home-country protection obtained

↓

Chinese agent appointed

↓

Choose route: PGI vs. GI-TM vs. Treaty protection

↓

Prepare documents → Translate → File → Pay fees

↓

Formality examination (30 days)

↓

Technical/substantive examination (90 days / 6–8 months for trademark)

↓

Publication (60 days)

↓

Approval / Registration

↓

Customs recordation + E-commerce setup + Annual reporting

8. Final Thoughts

China has approved 321 foreign geographical indications as of 2025, representing more than USD 18 billion in annual imports—70 percent via the PGI route. The new 2025 guideline creates a closed-loop system integrating online hearings, electronic GI labels, and annual compliance audits. In other words, obtaining the certificate is only the start—effective operation, enforcement, and brand storytelling are the real long-term work.

For Chinese consumers, a GI represents quality and cultural heritage.For overseas organizations, it is a mechanism for turning terroir into a long-term commercial asset.

We hope this guide helps you bring your region’s cheese, ham, spirits, fruits, and more onto the Chinese table in the decade ahead.

Need expert support for GI, trademark, or other IP filings in China?

TMRegisterChina, powered by Gomax International, is an officially listed CNIPA agency providing end-to-end services for foreign governments, associations, and exporters.