China and the European Union are discussing integration of their respective food quality standards after identifying 10 food products bearing a quality mark in each other's market, a senior EU official said in Shanghai yesterday.

"We are now negotiating with China to build up a mutual regulatory system for granting Geographical Indication marks," said Dacian Ciolos, an EU commissioner. "With this program, we hope to introduce more quality-guaranteed European agricultural products into China, and vice versa."

Geographical Indication, or GI, is a sign used on products to show its specific geographical location or origin.

Under the EU-China program, the yellow-blue labels guarantee quality, tradition, good taste, authenticity as well as high environmental and animal welfare standards, said Ciolos, who led a business delegation to China this week to promote the recognition of GI signs.

The pilot program, initiated in 2007, has started to bear fruit. Last year, 10 European food products, including Scottish farmed salmon, Stilton cheese and Prosciutto di Parma bearing the GI mark were allowed to be sold in China. Ten Chinese products, including the famed Longjing tea produced in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Shaanxi apples and Zhenjiang vinegar, bearing the GI stamp were sold in EU supermarkets.

The next step may well be negotiating a future comprehensive bilateral agreement to integrate the current respective GI systems.

"With growing awareness of food safety and quality in China, we hope to expand this program and give Chinese consumers a more diversified choice," Ciolos said.