In the not so distant future, Kraft Parmesan, a household name for grated cheese with its distinctive green package sold by a Japanese dairy company, may disappear from shelves in Japan or reappear bearing a different name.

That is one example of what may happen after Japan and the European Union agreed to protect each other's signature food and other agricultural products designated as geographical indications (GI). It is part of an economic partnership framework that the two sides came to a broad agreement in July.

The following is a brief rundown of the kinds of products covered under GI and the rules governing the designation.