Context

• A consignment of GI certified Fazil mango variety sourced from West Bengal's Malda district was exported to Bahrain.

 

About

• GI certified Khirsapati, Lakkhanbhog, Fazli, Amrapali and Chausa (all sourced from Malda), Langda from West Bengal's Nadiya, and Uttar Pradesh's Dusshheri are the nine types of mangoes which were exported.
• The mangoes were sourced from farmers by APEDA.
• APEDA has been conducting virtual buyer-seller meets and festivals to promote mango exports.
• For the first time in this season, India has shipped GI certified Banganapalli and other variety Survarnarekha mangoes sourced from farmers of Andhra Pradesh recently.

 

Mango

• Mango in India is also referred to as ‘king of fruits’ and referred to as Kalpavriksha (wish granting tree) in ancient scriptures.
• India is by far the world's largest producer, producing around 20 million tonnes of mango annually.
• In 2019, global production of mangoes was 56 million tonnes, led by India with 46% (26 million tonnes) of the world total.
• The second-largest source is Indonesia.
• Though India is the largest producer of mangoes, it accounts for less than 1% of the international mango trade; India consumes most of its own production.

 

APEDA

• Agriculture and processed food production export Development Authority (APEDA) is an apex body that promotes export trade of agricultural products in India.
• Set-up by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, APEDA was formed under the act passed by parliament in 1985.
• APEDA is mandated with the responsibility of export promotion and development of the following scheduled products:

Fruits, vegetables and their products

Meat and meat products

Poultry and poultry products

Dairy products

Confectionery biscuits and Bakery products

Honey, jaggery and sugar products

Cocoa and its products, Chocolates of all kinds.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages

Cereal and cereal products

Groundnuts peanuts and walnuts

Pickles, papads and chutney

Guar gum

Floriculture and its products

Herbal and Medicinal plants

• The above product categories are almost covered 50% of all Agriculture products exported from India.
• APEDA has also been entrusted with the responsibility to monitor import of sugar.

 

GI Tag

• A geographical indication or GI is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.
• Geographical Indications are part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
• In India, Geographical Indications registration is administered by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act of 1999.
• This tag is valid for a period of 10 years following which it can be renewed.
• GI tags are covered under World Trade Organization.
• Geographical indications are typically used for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine and spirit drinks, handicrafts, and industrial products.
• It is basically an assurance that the product is coming from that specific area. It's kind of trademark in the international market.
• Karnataka has the highest number of GI tags i.e. 47 products followed by Tamil Nadu (39). Some of the major products that have got GI tag are: Mysore Silk of Karnataka.
• Products that recently got GI tags are

Kashmir Saffron

Gorakhpur Terracotta

Manipur Chak-Hao

Jharkhand Sohrai – Khovar Painting

Telangana Telia Rumal

 

Benefits of registration of Geographical Indications

• It confers legal protection to Geographical Indications in India
• Prevents unauthorised use of a Registered Geographical Indication by others
• It provides legal protection to Indian Geographical Indications which in turn boost exports.
• It promotes economic prosperity of producers of goods produced in a geographical territory.

 

How a geographical indication is different from a trade mark?

• A trade mark is a sign which is used in the course of trade and it distinguishes goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises.
• Whereas a geographical indication is an indication used to identify goods having special characteristics originating from a definite geographical territory.

 

https://www.livemint.com/news/india/india-expands-export-of-mangoes-to-newer-countries-11625910704497.html