GIs to take off big in 2025 with EU opening doors for Indian craft, industrial products

A lot is happening around the world, With World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos to the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya shortly, one common thing which is connecting these important events is the celebration of Indian tradition and culture in both these august gathering.

Recently, a GI application has been filed for the Hanuman Garhi Laddu from Ayodhya is the third laddu from the country, after Tirupati Laddu and Bandar Laddu. The famous Aligarh Lock, which is also a registered Geographical Indication (GI), will also adorn the doors of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.

While in Davos, India is celebrating for the first time the ‘spirit of India hour’ where in the wines and spirits of India will be displayed. Sula wines, Goa Feni again will be on the menu to give the international business and political leaders a taste of India’s unique products. We have also seen in the past that GI products like cheriyal paintings and silver filigree are being given to the international community in Davos every year.

The concept of GI originated from Europe where there were so many varieties of cheese, wines and perfumes and spirits which were unique and had to be differentiated. India then chose the sui generis model and enacted the GI ACT in 1999. In Europe currently, the agri and non-agri products are registered as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) where in all the raw materials used to the finished product must come from the demarcated area and not even a single item used to make the product should come from outside the region of the origin. Another is the PGI, which is the Protected Geographical Indications label certifies that not all the production process is linked to that specific region but only the most relevant phases that give to the product its unique character.

Currently, only agricultural products, wine and spirit drinks are covered under the EU GI protection, and only a few member States have provided, at a national level, a specific legal framework for recognizing and protecting GIs for craft and industrial products.

In a welcome move, On 27 October, 2023, the Regulation (EU) 2023/2411 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October, 2023, on the protection of geographical indications for craft and industrial products and amending Regulations (EU) 2017/1001 and (EU) 2019/1753 (Regulation) was published. This Regulation introduces a new EU intellectual property right, extending the protection for geographical indications (GI) to craft and industrial products.

The registration process will commence from December 2025, and with this the Indian GI handicrafts and Industrial products will take off in a big way to register, market and build a brand to create the much-needed demand in Europe. The journey of GIs in India has been a roller coaster with lot of products still to get popularized and market acceptance. The challenge lies on what steps will government of India take to help Indian GIs cross borders to get registration in EU. While it will be easy for products like Pashmina Shawl, Banaras Brocades and Silk, Tanglia Shawl, Kancheepuram Silks, Pochampally to cross borders with stakeholders taking the onus on their shoulders, but for products like Cheriyal paintings, Nirmal Paintings, Mysore sandal etc., the artisans might not have the resources to register them in EU.

To conclude, there is an immense need to set up a national GI board which can take up the branding, promotion, and registration of GIs in EU and abroad. This will really align with the clarion call of the PM vocal for local and place our local products in global market giving the much-needed economic boost to the art and artisans of India.