The Union commerce ministry has given approval for registration of ?Allepey Coir? under the Geographical Indications (GI) Act. This will pave way for better understanding of the coir products globally and it will join the likes of Basmati Rice, Darjeeling Tea, Kanchipuram Silk Saree, Alphonso Mango and Kolhapuri Chappal. Coir exports from the nation have been facing testing times with competition from nations like Sri Lanka and the strengthening of the Indian currency. The state-run Coir Board expressed confidence that the identity would give the industry an advantage and premium in the market.The GI originates from a definite geographical territory, which is used to identify agricultural, natural, or manufactured goods. GI registration gives to the registered proprietor and its authorised users, the legal right to the exclusive use of the GI and the right to obtain relief in case of infringement.
Exclusion of unauthorised persons from misusing GI would ensure that genuine products of the rightful producers are marketed, Coir Board chairman AC Jose said.
This will also ensure that the end customers get good quality coir products as the product endures stringent quality checks, he added. The registration certificate will be formally handed over by Gopalakrishna Pillai, secretary commerce ministry, on July 24 at a function to be held in Allepey. The Union government enacted the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999, to provide for registration and better protection of geographical indications related to goods in India.