GI (Geographical Indication) Tags –
A GI or Geographical Indication is a name or a sign given to certain products that relate to a specific geographical location or origins like a region, town or country.
Using Geographical Indications may be regarded as a certification that the particular product is produced as per traditional methods, has certain specific qualities, or has a particular reputation because of its geographical origin.
Geographical indications are typically used for wine and spirit drinks, foodstuffs, agricultural products, handicrafts, and industrial products.GI Tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorized users are allowed to use the popular product name. In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.
Who accords and regulates Geographical Indications?
Geographical Indications are covered as a component of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. At the International level, GI is governed by the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 which came into force with effect from September 2003. The first product in India to be accorded with GI tag was Darjeeling tea in the year 2004-05.
List of GI Tags 2019-2020
| Product Name | Category | State |
| Kandhamal Haladi | Agriculture | Odisha |
| Gulbarga Tur Dal | Agriculture | Karnataka |
| Kodaikanal Malai Poondu | Agriculture | Tamil Nadu |
| Tirur Betel Leaf | Agriculture | Kerala |
| Khola Chilli | Agriculture | Goa |
| Kaji Nemu | Agriculture | Assam |
| Rasagola | Food Stuff | Odisha |
| Palani Panchamirtham | Food Stuff | Tamil Nadu |
| Srivilliputtur Palkova | Food Stuff | Tamil Nadu |
| Dindigul Locks | Industrial Product | Tamil Nadu |
| Pawndum | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Ngotekherh | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Hmaram | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Tawlhohpuan | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Mizo Puanchei | Handicraft | Mizoram |
| Idu Mishmi Textiles | Handicraft | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Kandangi Saree | Handicraft | Tamil Nadu |
Benefits of GI Tags
The Geographical Indication registration confers the following benefits:
- Legal protection to the products
- Prevents unauthorised use of GI tag products by others
- It helps consumers to get quality products of desired traits and is assured of authenticity.
- Promotes the economic prosperity of producers of GI tag goods by enhancing their demand in national and international markets.
Geographical Indications Protection
There are three major ways to protect a geographical indication:
- So-called sui generis systems (i.e. special regimes of protection)
- Using collective or certification marks
- Techniques concentrating on business practices, including administrative product approval schemes.
The approaches to protect GI comprise of differences with respect to critical questions like conditions for protection or the scope of protection. On the other hand, the two modes of protection mentioned above namely sui generis systems and collective or certification mark systems, share some common characteristics, such as the fact that they set up rights for collective use by those who comply with defined standards.
-Shikhar Swami