New GI Tagged Products
07.10.2024
New GI Tagged Products
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For Prelims: About New GI Tagged Products, Key facts about the Geographical Indication (GI Tag) |
Why in the news?
Recently, the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai granted the GI tag to eight products from the Assam region, including traditional food items and several unique varieties of rice beer.
About New GI Tagged Products:
Unique varieties of rice beer
- ‘Bodo Jou Gwran’: It has the highest percentage of alcohol (about 16.11%) when compared with other varieties of rice beer made by the Bodo community.
- ‘Maibra Jou Bidwi’: It is known locally as ‘Maibra Jwu Bidwi’ or ‘Maibra Zwu Bidwi’, is revered and served as a welcome drink by most Bodo tribes. It’s prepared by fermenting half-cooked rice (mairong) with less water and adding a little ‘amao’ (a potential source of yeast) to it.
- ‘Bodo Jou Gishi’: It is also a traditionally fermented rice-based alcoholic beverage.
Traditional Food Products
- Bodo Napham’: It is an important and favourite dish of fermented fish prepared anaerobically in a tightly sealed container in a process that requires about two-three months.
- Bodo Ondla’: A rice powder curry flavoured with garlic, ginger, salt, and alkali.
- Bodo Gwkha’: It is locally also known as ‘Gwka Gwkhi’, it’s prepared during the Bwisagu festival.
- ‘Bodo Narzi’: It is a semi-fermented food prepared with jute leaves (Corchorus capsularis), a rich source of Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins and essential minerals, including calcium and magnesium.
- Bodo Aronai’: It is a small, beautiful cloth (1.5-2.5 meters long and 0.5 meter wide).
Key facts about the Geographical Indication (GI Tag):
- It is a mark used on products that have a specific geographical origin.
- These products have their own quality and reputation.
- It is generally given to agricultural products, food items, wine and spirit beverages, handicrafts and industrial products.
- In India, GI tag is regulated by the Registration and Protection Act, 1999.
- GI tag is granted for 10 years at a time.
- After this it can be renewed again.
Importance of GI Tag:
- It indicates the place of origin of a product.
- It also helps in protecting the interests of local producers and artisans by preventing imitation of products.
Source: The Hindu