Wuchuan mooncakes from Zhanjiang were included in the first batch of geographical indications (GI) protection list under a bilateral agreement between China and the European Union (EU).

The GI indication is a distinctive sign used on products that have a specific geographic origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

The GI agreement was signed between the two parties during the China-Germany-EU leaders' meeting on Sept 14.

According to the agreement, 100 Chinese GI products will receive the protection in the EU market as soon as the agreement goes into effect, while 100 EU products will be protected in China.

Four years after its entry came into force, the scope of the agreement will expand to cover an additional 175 GI names from both sides.

Wuchuan mooncakes from Zhanjiang are among the 100 Chinese products, and are the only mooncake product in the first batch of the EU-China GI protection list.

Renowned as the "hometown of mooncakes in China," Wuchuan boasts 39 national mooncake brands. Its mooncakes are large in size, thin in skin, rich in filling, and numerous in variety. They can weigh 1 to 3 kilograms each.

Being included in the first batch of the protection list brings new opportunities to promote the development of the Wuchuan mooncake industry, as well as to spread the unique mooncake culture of Wuchuan to Europe and across the world.

Each Wuchuan mooncake weighs 1 to 3 kg. [Photo by Guo Longbi/WeChat account: gdzjfb]