Chakhesang Shawl gets Geographical Indication tag

Third product from Nagaland to get GI tag after Naga King Chilli & Tree Tomato

Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 25  

The Chakhesang Shawls became the latest and third goods from Nagaland to be granted the Geographical Indication (GI) Registration after the Naga Mircha and Naga Tree Tomato.  

While the ‘Chakhesang Shawl’ is listed under the category of ‘Handicrafts,’ the other two is registered under ‘Agricultural’ product under Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999.  

The application for the GI tag for the Chakhesang Shawls was filed by the Chakhesang Women Welfare Society which has its registered office at T. Chikri, Pfutsero, Phek District.  

Naga Mircha (application no.109) was the first to receive the GI tag between April 2008 – March 2009 while Naga Tree Tomato (application no.374) got the tag between April 2014 – March 2015. The Nagaland Department of Horticulture registered the goods with origin in Nagaland.  

The Chakhesang Shawls (application no. 542), is listed in the registration from ‘April 2017- till date.’ The list was published in the latest ‘Registration Details of Geographical Indications’ released on October 25 by Intellectual Property India (IPI), a Government of India agency.  

India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999, which came into force with effect from September 15, 2003. The Act is administered by the IPI’s Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks, who is also the Registrar of GI.  

According to the Act, the ‘GI in relation to goods’ is an indication “which identifies such goods as agricultural goods, natural goods or manufactured goods as originating, or manufactured in the territory of a country, or a region or locality in that territory…”  

It ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or residence of territory within the tag) are allowed to use the popular product name, confers legal protection and helps in preventing misuse of a registered GI.  

According to IPI, it also conveys “an assurance of quality and distinctiveness which is essentially attributable to the fact of its origin in that defined geographical locality, region or country.”  

GI tag is initially registered for a period of ten years, but may be renewed from time to time.  

Darjeeling tea (product and logo) was the first GI tagged product in India in 2004-05. By October 25, 2017, 542 products have been added to the list.  

So far, 18 products have received the GI tag from North East Region. They are: Assam (6)- Muga Silk (product & logo) , Assam (Orthodox) Logo, Assam Karbi Anglong Ginger, Tezpur litchi, Joha Rice of Assam; Arunachal Pradesh (1) - Arunachal Orange; Nagaland (3) - Naga Mircha (chilly), Naga Red Tomato and Chakhesang Shawl; Manipur (3) - Shaphee Lanphee, Wangkhei Phee, and Kachai Lemon; Meghalaya (2) - Khasi Mandarin, Memong Narang; Mizoram (1) - Mizo Chilli; Sikkim (1) - Sikkim Large Cardamom; and Tripura (1) - Tripura Queen Pineapple.