Zongzi. [Photo/jiaxingren.com]

The Regional Standard for Cooked Rice Wrapped in Plant Leaves (Zongzi), the Asian standard for zongzi food codex, was officially released in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province on March 18.

This standard was headed by the China General Chamber of Commerce, with Zhejiang Wufangzhai Co Ltd serving as the first drafting unit, jointly completed with more than 10 industry enterprises, research institutions, and universities.

The initiative aims to facilitate zongzi exports to Asian markets and broaden its international presence. Originating in 2016, China's proposal for an international zongzi standard gained momentum under the Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC). It endured three years of advocacy and finally secured approval after a strenuous seven-year process of technical negotiations and coordination, culminating in its formal release at the 46th session of the CAC held from Nov 26 to Dec 2 last year.

Jiaxing, renowned as China's zongzi production hub, plays a pivotal role in the industry. Spearheaded by leading companies like Wufangzhai, Jiaxing contributes nearly half of the nation's zongzi production.

In a related significant development, "Jiaxing Zongzi" was granted approval as the 18th national geographical indication trademark by the National Intellectual Property Administration in August 2021, solidifying its status as a nationally recognized culinary treasure.