THREE GI TAG APPLICATIONS FILED FOR T.N. PRODUCTS

• The Tamil Nadu State Agricultural Marketing Board has filed three applications seeking Geographical Indication (GI) tag for

1. Kavindhapadi Nattu Sakkarai (country sugar),
2. Ramnad Chithiraikar Rice and
3. Salem Kannadi Kathiri (brinjal) at the Geographical Indications Registry office in Chennai.

• The local associations from where these products originate were the co-applicants while NABARD Madurai Agri Business Incubation Forum was the facilitator.
• According to the details provided by the co-applicant, Kavindhapadi Nattu Sakkarai and Vellam Urpathiyalargal Sangam in Erode, Kavindapadi is a major supplier of country sugar in the State.
• The Ramnad Chithiraikar Rice Farmer Producer Association was the co-applicant for the Ramnad Chithiraikar Rice. The association mentioned that this was the early existing red rice variety in the Thirupullani tracts of Ramnad district.
• The Salem West Kannadi Kathiri Farmers’ Producer Association, the applicants for the Salem Kannadi Kathiri (brinjal), said this was very famous in Salem and Erode.
• IPR Attorney P. Sanjai Gandhi filed all three applications on behalf of the applicants. 

 GI Tag

• A GI is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicrafts and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.
• Typically, such a name conveys an assurance of quality and distinctiveness, which is essentially attributable to the place of its origin.

Security:

• Once the GI protection is granted, no other producer can misuse the name to market similar products. It also provides comfort to customers about the authenticity of that product.
• Any association of persons, producers, organisation or authority established by or under the law can be a registered proprietor.
• Their name should be entered in the Register of Geographical Indication as registered proprietor for the Geographical Indication applied for.

Validity of GI tag

• The registration of a geographical indication is valid for a period of 10 years.
• It can be renewed from time to time for further period of 10 years each.
• 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.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB