On September 18, the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) released the Provisions on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products (Draft for Comment) (the "Draft"), which is currently soliciting comments from various sectors of society. The deadline for receiving comments is November 2, 2023.

The Draft expands the provisions from 28 to 39 articles. It includes 15 new articles, removes 4 articles, substantially revises 19 articles, and generally retains the content of 5 existing articles. The main modifications are as follows: (1) clarifying the higher-level laws as the legal basis and departmental responsibilities; (2) defining the management responsibilities of applicants and the obligation of producers to produce according to standards; (3) improving examination standards and procedures for geographical indication products; (4) streamlining the approval process for the use of the geographical indication special marks; (5) enhancing the protection system for geographical indication products to boost utilization capabilities; and (6) strengthening the protection of geographical indication products.

(Source: China National Intellectual Property Administration)