State handloom products to be registered in GI Registry
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 01 2013: State handloom products namely Moirang-Phee, Saaphee-Laanphee and Rani-Phee are ready for registration in the GI Registry of India in compliance to Geographical Indication Registration Act, Principal Secretary of Commerce and Industries O Nabakishore has informed.

He was speaking as Chief Guest of a day-long Seminar cum Workshop on Geographical Indication organised by Department of Commerce and Industries under the aegis of Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai at the Conference Hall of Imphal Hotel, North AOC here today.

Nabakishore went on to inform that the Department of Commerce and Industries has already submitted application for registration of indigenous handloom products to the Registry.

Accordingly, an official Committee of the GI Registry would be visiting Manipur sometime in April or May to collect reports and information about the indigenous handloom products of Manipur.

After studying the products and if it is convinced that these indigenous handloom products of Manipur are not found or manufactured in other States of India, the Committee would be giving its clearance for the registration.

So, the Department has got ready for registration of three products namely Moirang-Phee, Saaphee-Laanphee and Rani-Phee for registration in the GI Registry of India soon after receiving the clearance of the Committee.

Explaining about the benefits of registering the indigenous products in the GI Registry of India, the Principal Secretary said that no State would be allowed to make similar products other than Manipur after the registration.

This would help in preserving the products as unique native products of Manipur.

If any person or company outside the state is found manufacturing similar products, they would be tried in accordance to the relevant law.

The officer further informed that the Commerce and Industries Department of the State Government has been conducting research on various indigenous handloom products of different communities in the State so that the Department can register them in the GI Registry.

The North Eastern Region has so far applied for the GI registration of 13 different products.

Among the States in the region, Manipur has maximum number of applications for the registration.

Nabakishore pointed out that the role of media is very important in the registration process of indigenous handloom and handicraft products.

Media publications serve as important point for reference in the whole process.

He called upon the media houses in the State to publish reports on indigenous products of the state and help in the process of getting the indigenous products for protecting and preservation of their unique and distinctive characters and features.

Assistant Registrar of Trademarks and Geographical Indication Registry, Chennai Chinnaraja G Naidu and Director of Commerce and Industries B John Tlangtinkhuma were also present during the inaugural function of the seminar as President and Guest of Honour respectively.

Handloom and Handicraft products of the state were also exhibited as part of the seminar.

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