The deal, which originally entered into force on February 1, 2019, protects the designated food products against imitation and usurpation.

This is the third time that the list of geographical indications protected in both Japan and the EU has been expanded, following the addition of 56 geographical indications in February 2021 and a further 56 in February 2022.

The EU and Japan also agreed to add six more geographical indications from Japan to the list by the end of this year and to decide on a further expansion of the list of protected geographical indications in 2025.