Public Notice on the Proposed Approval of 29 National Geographical Indication Protection Demonstration Zones Including Chadian Rose-Muscat Grapes

The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) published a public notice on October 27, 2026, proposing the approval of 29 national geographical indication (GI) protection demonstration zones, headed by the Chadian rose-muscat grape zone. The notice was issued under the Administrative Measures for the Construction of National GI Product Protection Demonstration Zones (Trial) (Guo Zhi Ban Fa Bao Zi No. 4 of 2021) and the CNIPA office notice on acceptance of demonstration zone applications (Guo Zhi Ban Han Bao Zi No. 297 of 2026).

According to the notice, the 29 candidate zones were selected through a multi-stage process comprising acceptance self-inspection, provincial-level acceptance evaluation and comprehensive assessment. The full list of proposed zones is attached to the notice on the CNIPA website. If approved, each zone will serve as a dedicated area for building integrated GI protection, management and brand-development systems around its signature local product.

The public comment period runs from October 27 to November 2, 2026. Objections to any proposed zone may be submitted to CNIPA by telephone, fax or email during that window. Submissions made in the name of an organization must bear the organization's official seal, while individual submissions must be signed with the person's real name and include a contact telephone number. The notice provides the dedicated contact channels: telephone (010) 62086096, fax (010) 62083171 and email pgi@cnipa.gov.cn.

The national GI demonstration zone program is a flagship component of China's effort to strengthen geographical indication protection and to link it with regional economic development: designated zones are expected to build standards, quality control and enforcement mechanisms around local specialty products and to act as models for other regions. For producers and brand owners in the listed regions, formal approval after the comment period will bring policy support for GI use, marketing and protection, making the final approved list relevant to companies sourcing or co-branding Chinese GI products.