Li Zhonghai, deputy director of the State Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision, made the remarks at a Beijing seminar on protecting genuine origin products, sponsored by the bureau and the France grape wine trade association on Monday and Tuesday.

This is part of China's strenuous efforts to curb the rampant manufacturing and sales of counterfeit products.

The protecting mechanism of "genuine origin products," which the bureau introduced in China in August 1999, is the result of learning from other countries' experience, Li said.

Such products are goods whose protection involves the use of raw materials that are peculiar to particular areas and are made using unique processes.

Wine, which comes from grapes and fermented in specific ways to yield certain flavours, is an example.

Such products enjoy a high reputation and are often the target of counterfeiters.

This mechanism has existed in France and other European countries for centuries, but it is still a novelty in China.

Three Chinese products - Shaoxing Wine, Xuanwei Ham and Maotai Spirit - have been given the title.

More than 100 products, including famous tea brand Longjing, have applied for "genuine origin products" status, Li said.

Quality authorities across the country also have strengthened co-operation with foreign and foreign-funded enterprises to crack down on counterfeit products.

Since October, 400 million yuan (US$48.2 million) worth of fake products under the names of well-known foreign-funded enterprises have been uncovered.

(China Daily 04/05/2001)