The European Union and China have signed a trade agreement to better ensure product standards for customers by protecting geographical indication (GI).

Pixian Bean paste, known as the soul of Sichuan cuisine, a region in southwest China, is an example of a product that will benefit from the new bilateral deal that will try to stop imitators. 

GI is a sign used on products to verify the place of origin, and business is expected to be boosted in both the EU and China with 100 new GIs on both sides.

Pixian Bean paste is a recipe in the popular dish Mapo Tofu and ingredients include blanched broad bean and red chilli peppers.

"Now the entire industry has more confidence in export, and in boosting the quality of our bean paste," said Yue Ping, Sichuan Dandan Pixian Bean Paste Group president.

"I believe that within a period of time we can improve the quality and sell more of our products to other countries."

There are 11 Sichuan province products to be now given GIs, with another example Mondo Grass of Santai county, where 15,000 tons of the medicinal herb is made every year.

"The agreement really does strengthen consumer confidence. I mean we've got this whole host of famous products," Paul Sives, vice president of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.

"Obviously, the hope is they are going to buy more stuff. It's great if China could include other countries, other countries could negotiate and sign an agreement as well, which would give total security to products of quality coming in globally."