Ophiopogon japonicus is a protected geographical indication product. Xiang Ophiopogon japonicus is a geographical indication certification trademark.
Ophiopogon japonicus, a specialty of Xiangfan City, Hubei Province, is a Chinese geographical indication product. Hubei Ophiopogon japonicus, a plant of the genus Ophiopogon japonicus in the Liliaceae family, is a unique variety in Xiangyang. It has the effects of nourishing yin and promoting fluid production, moistening the lungs and clearing the heart, and eliminating irritability. Oumiao Town in Xiangfan City is known as the hometown of Ophiopogon japonicus in China and ranks first among the three major Ophiopogon japonicus producing areas in China. Its yield per unit area is higher than that of Sichuan and Hangzhou Ophiopogon japonicus. It has excellent quality and is characterized by being "white, dry, clean, uniform and large".
Businessmen gathered in Oumiao Town, Xiangcheng District, Xiangfan City, a big town of Ophiopogon japonicus, and the price of Ophiopogon japonicus climbed to the highest peak in four years. This town strives to standardize market order, guide farmers and large dealers to ensure the quality of Ophiopogon japonicus products, and support the fight against SARS.
Ophiopogon japonicus in Xiangfan accounts for 60% of the total output of Ophiopogon japonicus in the country, and Ophiopogon japonicus in Oumiao accounts for 85% of the city's output. Relevant national departments have announced three Chinese herbal medicine prescriptions for the prevention and treatment of SARS, and Ophiopogon japonicus is among them as a traditional Chinese medicine. Immediately, medicinal merchants from Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Jiangxi, Wuhan and other places flocked to Oumiao to purchase. As of yesterday, more than 1,000 kilograms of Ophiopogon japonicus had been sold.
In order to ensure the quality of Ophiopogon japonicus, we must resolutely put an end to price gouging and other unfair practices. As an act of fair competition, Oumiao Town has taken measures to require farmers not to adulterate and use fake products, repeating the mistake of no one paying attention to Ophiopogon japonicus. At the same time, we must strictly standardize the processing procedures of Ophiopogon japonicus, urge farmers and major distributors to ensure proper picking, drying, and rough processing, and resolutely prohibit the use of sulfur and other drugs to dry Ophiopogon japonicus.
Mao Aihua, a major Ophiopogon japonicus dealer in Oumiao Town, said that when business was at its best, 18 merchants came to his house in one day. The Ophiopogon japonicus stored at home has been sold out. He puts quality first. When a merchant in Henan Province asked to improve the dryness of Ophiopogon japonicus, he started drying it day and night; when a merchant in Shandong Province needed a large and brightly colored Ophiopogon japonicus, he hired many people to carefully select it. Until the merchant is satisfied.
According to the "Regulations on the Protection of Geographical Indication Products", the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine organized a review of the application for protection of geographical indication products of Ophiopogon japonicus. After passing the review, it was approved to implement geographical indication product protection for Ophiopogon japonicus from May 7, 2008 (Announcement No. 53 of 2008).
Protection Scope
The protection scope of Xiang Ophiopogon japonicus geographical indication products is based on the "Letter on Requesting to Define the Scope of Xiang Ophiopogon japonicus Geographical Indication Products" (Xiangfan Government Letter [Xiangfan Government Letter] by the People's Government of Xiangfan City, Hubei Province) 2006〕No. 78) shall prevail, which is the administrative area under the jurisdiction of Oumiao Town, Xiangcheng District, Xiangfan City, Hubei Province.