DAILY NEWS ANALYSIS

The Prime Minister, in the 128th episode of ‘Mann Ki Baat’, highlighted Ramban Sulai Honey from Jammu and Kashmir, noting that it has gained wider national recognition after receiving a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Ramban Sulai Honey

Ramban Sulai Honey is produced in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir and is renowned for its rich taste, aromatic floral undertones, and high nutritional value.
It is extracted from the nectar of Sulai plants (wild basil) that grow naturally in the Himalayan region.

Botanical Source and Production

The honey is produced when bees forage on the snow-white blossoms of the Sulai plant during the months of August to October.
This natural process results in a well-rounded, naturally sweet honey with floral notes.

Physical and Nutritional Characteristics

Ramban Sulai Honey is crystal-clear, with colour ranging from white to amber.
It contains essential minerals, enzymes, and vitamins, contributing to its high medicinal and health value.
Due to superior bee strains and favourable climatic conditions, honey yields in Ramban are significantly higher than in many other regions.

Recognition and Government Support

• It received the Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2021, ensuring authenticity and protection.
• The Government of India has declared Ramban Sulai Honey as the district’s “One District, One Product (ODOP)”, promoting local livelihoods and traditional beekeeping

Geographical Indication (GI)

Introduction

A Geographical Indication (GI) is a form of intellectual property right used to identify products that originate from a specific geographical area and possess qualities, reputation, or characteristics essentially linked to that place.
GI protection helps preserve traditional knowledge, cultural heritage, and regional identity.

Definition of GI

As per Article 22(1) of the TRIPS Agreement, a GI refers to:

Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory, region, or locality of a member, where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin.

This definition emphasizes the direct connection between product quality and geography.

Types of Geographical Indications

In many European Union countries, GIs are classified into:

• Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)
• Protected Designation of Origin (PDO)

However, India recognizes only the PGI category, where at least one stage of production takes place in the designated geographical area.

Scope and Significance of GI

GI protection in India extends to both:

• Agricultural products (e.g., rice, tea, spices)
• Non-agricultural products, such as handicrafts, which derive uniqueness from local skills, materials, and traditions

Thus, GI acts as a powerful tool for socio-economic development, rural employment, and promotion of indigenous knowledge systems.

Legal Framework and Governance of Geographical Indications (GI)

Geographical Indications are governed at the international level under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which provides minimum standards for GI protection among member countries.
In India, GI protection is regulated by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, which aims to provide for the registration, protection, and prevention of misuse of GI-tagged goods.
Additionally, the Paris Convention emphasizes the protection of industrial property and geographical indications under Articles 1(2) and 10, strengthening international recognition of GIs.

Registration of Geographical Indications (GI)

GI Registry and Authority

The Geographical Indication Registry, located in Chennai, is the statutory authority responsible for the registration and issuance of GI tags in India.
It functions under the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which comes under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Status of GI Tag Registration

Global Scenario

Globally, the registration of GIs is dominated by developed economies.
Germany leads with 15,566 registered GI products, followed by China with 7,247 registrations, according to 2020 data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
In terms of product categories, wines and spirits constitute about 51.8% of registered GIs worldwide, followed by agricultural products and foodstuffs at 29.9%.

Indian Scenario

Compared to other nations, India lags behind in GI registration.
As of December 2023, Intellectual Property India received 1,167 GI applications, of which only 547 products have been registered, as per the GI Registry.
Within India, handicrafts account for about 45% of GI products, while agricultural products constitute nearly 30%, reflecting the dominance of traditional and rural goods.

Concerns Regarding GI Tags in India

Issues with the GI Act and Registration Process

The GI Act, 1999, framed over two decades ago, requires timely amendments to address evolving economic and global challenges.
The complex registration forms and lengthy application processing time make compliance difficult for small producers and artisans.
The application acceptance ratio is only about 46%, indicating procedural inefficiencies.
Further, the lack of strong institutional support hampers effective enforcement and implementation of GI protection.
Many producers face difficulties after GI registration due to inadequate guidance, marketing support, and capacity building.

Ambiguity in the Definition of Producers

The absence of a clear definition of “producers” in the GI Act, 1999 has allowed intermediaries and traders to benefit disproportionately.
This ambiguity dilutes the intended economic advantages for genuine local producers, farmers, and artisans.

International-Level Disputes

Disputes involving products such as Darjeeling Tea and Basmati Rice highlight the weak international enforcement of GI rights.
These disputes indicate that GIs often receive less priority compared to patents, trademarks, and copyrights in global IPR negotiations.

Limited Academic Attention

Academic engagement with GI-related issues in India remains limited.
Only seven academic publications were recorded initially, although there has been a recent increase in interest, with 35 articles published in 2021.
In contrast, European countries such as Italy, Spain, and France dominate GI-related academic research.