Glasgow, Birmingham keen to trademark Indian dishes

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London: Can Punjab get a trademark for ‘tandoori chicken’ or Tamil Nadu apply to claim the status for ‘idli sambar’ and prevent the cooking and sale of the delicacies in other parts of India and elsewhere? Food buffs and trade officials would reject the very idea, but two councils in Britain- Birmingham and Glasgow- are trying to trademark two varieties of Indian food that they claim originated in their areas and hope to ban its cooking and sale elsewhere.

The Birmingham City Council is looking at getting a trademark for ‘Balti’ dishes while the Glasgow City Council is supporting Labour MP Mohammad Sarwar’s idea to get a trademark for ‘chicken tikka masala’.

The two councils are examining European legislation that protects products such as Scotch whiskey, champagne, Wensleydale cheese and Arbroath smokies, so that they can apply for similar geographical indicator status to the dishes they claim as their own.

Birmingham is laying claim to the ‘Balti’ dish on the ground that it was invented in the Sparkhill area of the city by immigrants from South Asia in 1977. The city has a reputation for ‘Balti’ dishes and has a popular area called the ‘Balti Triangle’. Sarwar believes Glasgow should claim the trademark for ‘chicken tikka masala’, which is so popular in UK that it is often referred to as national dish. The claim is that the dish was invented in Glasgow by immigrants nearly 40 years ago.

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: “Curry has a long history in Glasgow and the origins of ‘chicken tikka masala’ are now clearly part of that legend. Glasgow has been declared Curry Capital of Britain three times in recent years and the quality of the food available is unsurpassed.

“Anything that highlights the quality of the curry experience in Glasgow has to be welcomed.”

Expressing Birmingham City Council’s support for ‘Balti’, a spokesman said: “The city is not only the birthplace of the dish, but also home to the UK’s premier community of Balti restaurants and businesses - The Balti Triangle.

“We are always seeking new and imaginative ways to promote the city regionally, nationally and internationally. If it is judged to be feasible and to the benefit of local people and businesses we would not hesitate in pursuing it.”