What is a GI Tag?
Ever Wondered Why Famous Products
Have the Name of a Village or City Prefixed to Them?
Welcome to the World of India's
Geographical Indications.
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WHAT IS GI?
GI stands for Geographical Indications.
A Geographical Indication is a sign used
on products that have a specific geographical
origin and possess qualities, reputation or
characteristics that are essentially
attributable to that place of origin.
In simple words — a GI Tag tells you:
- EXACTLY where a product comes from
- WHY that location makes it unique
- WHO made it (the artisan community)
- HOW it was made (traditional process)
- That it is AUTHENTIC — not a copy
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WHAT ARE GI TAGGED PRODUCTS?
Products that obtain unique quality from a
specific region due to traditional practices,
vegetation, topography and have been in
existence for centuries — exemplifying the
Heritage and Culture of a Region and its people.
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FOR WHAT TYPE OF PRODUCTS IS GI TAG USED?
GI Tag is conferred for:
- Agricultural Products
- Handlooms & Textiles
- Foodstuffs
- Wine and Spirit
- Handicrafts
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WHO GIVES THE GI TAG IN INDIA?
The Indian Parliament passed the Geographical
Indications of Goods (Registration and
Protection) Act in December 1999.
The Act is administered by the Controller
General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks,
who is also the Registrar of Geographical
Indications. The GI Registry is located in Chennai.
Darjeeling Tea was India's FIRST GI Tagged
product, receiving its tag in 2004-05.
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GI TAGS AROUND THE WORLD
There are around 60,000 GI Tagged Products
in the World. Famous examples include:
- Champagne — Champagne region, France
- Tequila — City of Tequila, Mexico
- Swiss Watches — Switzerland
- Antep Baklava — Turkey
- Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese — Parma &
Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Darjeeling Tea — Darjeeling, India (First Indian GI)
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WHY SHOULD YOU BUY GI TAGGED?
✓ Exact geographical origin guaranteed
✓ Unique qualities from that region assured
✓ Prescribed traditional manufacturing process
✓ Artisan communities directly supported
✓ Authenticity ensured — no bogus claims
✓ Quality protection under law
Note: Period of Origin for each product is
noted from Statement of Case of GI Registry
Document and digital sources.