Black Cumin and Olive Oil from this State has been granted G.I. Tag

July 6,2019:

GI tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users are allowed to use the popular product name. Black Cumin (Kala Jeera) and Olive Oil (Chulli Oil) of Himachal Pradesh received Geographical Indication Tag under Geographical Indication Act 1999.

In India, Himachal is the first state to formulate a policy in the year 2004 for the registration of Geographical Indications of Himachal Pradesh. This year in the month of May Himachal Pradesh’s ‘Kala Jeera’ (black cumin) and ‘Chulli Oil’ (dried apricot) received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Government.

The G.I. Act is a suit generic Act of Govt of India to protect the traditional and original products and their place of origin in India. Registration gives the right to the institution of suit against infringement and recovery of damages for such infringement. The most common Indic name (Indic refers to India or the Indian subcontinent) for this spice is kala jeera, which translates to black cumin. It is an exotic spice.

Himachal Pradesh Patent Information Centre (HPPIC), located in HIMCOSTE in Shimla, has been declared as the nodal agency for identifying GI of the state and getting these registered under the GI Act. Their aim is to protect the interests of manufacturers, producers and artisans of the state.

GI applications of ‘kala zeera’ and ‘chulli oil’ were filed by HPPIC, HIMCOSTE and Kinnaur Chulli/Bhemi oil producers and Kinnaur processor society on behalf of manufacturers and producers. Registration of these products under the GI Act will prevent unauthorised production as well as misuse of the name of these products. Registration of the G.I. Act represents the validity of the product and origin. Those who tamper with the origin of goods are punished according to the provisions of the Act.

 To visit, Trademarkclick.com, Click Here