3. ABSTRACT
• Geographical Indications, the potential messiahs of farmers, weavers and local traders came to
India with the Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999. Ever since, a lot of government
entities have advocated for an increased number of registrations; providing a glimmer of hope
to communities that things would change for good. This paper briefly introduces you to the
concept of GIs and its history. Things have not been so black and white in this context for India.
There are various problems faced by producers post the registration process and the GI
remains somewhat symbolic in nature. The paper highlights how much of these GI-tagged
products stand marred by those disadvantages which come with lack of quality control and
scientific vigour. The Banarasi and Venkatagiri sarees, along with the Pashmina Silk face
adversities even though they are registered as GIs. The issue of genericide is also discussed,
emphasising on how we ought to have kept its scope narrower than it is in India. However,
there also exists a silver lining. There are also some success stories, which although are less in
number, provide deep insights into how we can improve the status quo. The Darjeeling tea and
Chanderi saree are foremost examples. By showing our successes and failures as two parallels,
this piece advocates for betterment through resolution of the different problems highlighted.
Strict legal vigilance is required to inhibit the threats faced by these indigenous products and
their producers.
4. INTRODUCTION
• Geographical Indications
A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that
have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a
reputation that are due to that origin. In order to function as a
GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given
place.
GI tag is the abbreviation of Geographical Indications tags in India. It
came into force with effect from 15th September 2003. Darjeeling Tea
was the first Indian product to get a GI tag. This article will discuss more
such information on GI in detail.
5. LIST OF GI TAG ITEM
Products Categories States
Kashmir Saffron Agriculture Jammu & Kashmir
Manipuri Black Rice Food Stuff Manipur
Kandhamal Haladi Agricultural Odisha
Rasagola Food Stuff Odisha
Kodaikanal Malai Poondu Agricultural Tamil Nadu
Pawndum Handicraft Mizoram
Ngotekherh Handicraft Mizoram
Hmaram Handicraft Mizoram
Palani Panchamirtham Food Stuff Tamil Nadu
Tawlhlohpuan Handicraft Mizoram
Mizo Puanchei Handicraft Mizoram
Gulbarga Tur Dal Agricultural Karnataka
Tirur Betel Leaf (Tirur Vettila) Agricultural Kerala
Khola Chilli Agricultural Goa
Idu Mishmi Textiles Handicraft Arunachal Pradesh
Dindigul Locks Manufactured Tamil Nadu
Kandangi Saree Handicraft Tamil Nadu
Srivilliputtur Palkova Food Stuff Tamil Nadu
Kaji Nemu Agricultural Assam
6. WAY FORWARD
1.GI tag needs to be allotted only after a thorough historical
and empirical inquiry.
2.For products whose origin can’t be effectively traced,
either none of the regions be provided with the GI tag or
both the states should be given ownership.
3.The focus of the states and the community needs to shift
from mere certification for the sake of regional and instead
divert all resources towards active promotion of the
product and its respective industry.
7. WHY SHOULD WE OBTAIN GI PROTECTION
• 1- ENHANCES ECONOMIC GROWTH
• The protection of geographical indications leads to the overall economic prosperity of the
manufacturers and producers. Furthermore, the marketing and promotion of the products
with the GI tags enhance the secondary economic activities in that specific region, which in
turn boosts the regional economic development. Last but not least, the protection of
geographical indications creates a positive image and reputation of the product in the minds
of the consumers and rewards the producers with incentives and better ROI.
• 2- EXPANDS BUSINESS
• The prime purpose of registering a geographical indication is to seek protection for specific
products produced in a particular geographical region, which further encourages and
motivates the marketers to expand their business at a global level. Furthermore, the
protection of geographical indications boosts exports and helps the producers in earning well
for themselves.
8. 3- PREVENTS UNAUTHORIZED USE OF GI TAGS
• The registered holder of the GI tag has all the legal rights to prevent anyone not
belonging to the GI region from using their GI tags. The owners can also initiate legal
proceedings against the unauthorized user to save their reputation from being damage
• 4- INCREASES TOURISM
• The protection of GI tags builds a global reputation for the products. People around the
world notice various GI products from different regions and get motivated to visit those
regions and use such products. Therefore, it helps in the growth of the tourism industry
of that particular region as well
9. Geographic indication tag Item of
DARJEELING TEA
• Darjeeling tea is a tea made from Camellia sinensis var. sinensis that is grown
and processed in Darjeeling or Kalimpong Districts in West Bengal, India. Since
2004, the term Darjeeling tea has been a registered geographical
indication referring to products produced on certain estates within Darjeeling and
Kalimpong. The tea leaves are processed as black tea, though some estates have
expanded their product offerings to include leaves suitable for
making green, white and oolong teas.
• The tea leaves are harvested by plucking the plant's top two leaves and the bud,
from March to November, a time span that is divided into four flushes. The first
flush consists of the first few leaves grown after the plant's winter dormancy and
produce a light floral tea with a slight astringency; this flush is also suitable for
producing a white tea. Second flush leaves are harvested after the plant has been
attacked by a leaf hopperand the camellia tortrix so that the leaves create a tea
with a distinctive muscatel aroma. The warm and wet weather of monsoon flush
rapidly produces leaves but they are less flavorful and often used for blending.
The autumn flush produces teas similar, but more muted, to the second flush.
10. Success of Darjeeling tea in markets
• Trade Supply Chain Integrity System
• Introduced a trade chain management system for surveillance and
monitoring of the supply chain and addressing traceability issues in
the Darjeeling tea trade .
• Two computerized data collection centres have been set up in
Darjeeling and Kolkata, connected through internet enabled
services.
• The system entails computerized collection and validation of all
plantation and processing related data namely:
1. Daily green leaf plucking records
2. Daily area plucked records
3. Daily man power used records
11. STRATEGY
• Trade Supply Chain Audit
• Appointed an independent certification agency to conduct trade
chain audit to check and validate the authenticity of the data
collected through the Trade Supply Chain Integrity System.
• The certification agency will conduct onsite checking and
verification of all the data submitted by all entities in the trade
chain.
• Approximately 33 % of the all entities registered under each
category will be audited each year, with every entity
12. Strengths of tea industry
• Darjeeling Tea Industry
• Spread over 17,800 hectare
• Produces approx. 8 to 9 million kg tea.
• 87 tea estates
• More than 1 Lakh workers, predominantly women.
13. Failures of Darjeeling tea in markets
• Limited quantity.
• Old trade practices
• Market access.
• Consumer awareness.
• Bulk packaging.
• High cost of promotion and distribution.
• Enforcement.
• Lack of vision.
14. CONCLUSION
• While the Tea Board has made strides in its quest for international
recognition of Darjeeling tea as a trademark, recognition of
Darjeeling Tea as a Geographical Indicator in the international
arena is still to be achieved, primarily due to the fact that Article 23
of TRIPS gives good protection to Wines and Spirits, but currently
not for other products. The lack of a multilateral system of
notification and registration for products like Darjeeling Tea which is
available for wines and spirits, is jeopardizing the international
protection that would offer adequate protection. It is therefore
important for India to seek extension of GI protection toother
products by amending Article 23 of the TRIPS.
