The Geographical Indication Registry has given the Geographical Indication (GI) tag to the traditional Etikoppaka toys (Etikoppaka Bommalu) from Andhra Pradesh.
These traditional toys are made by artisans in Etikoppaka village located on the banks of river Varaha in Visakhapatnam district.
The Etikoppaka toys now join the elite products from Andhra Pradesh such as Kondapalli toys, Bobbili Veena, Tirupati laddu, Srikalahasthi Kalamkari, Uppada Jamdani sarees and Shadow puppets to have coveted GI tag.
The wood used is from ‘Ankudi Karra’ (Wrightia tinctoria) tree that is soft in nature and the art which is more than 400 years old, is also known as turned wood Lacquer craft.
Geographical indicators registered in 2016-17 are,
Durgi stone carving - Andhra Pradesh
Tulaipanji rice - West Bengal
Kangra painting - Himachal Pradesh
Gobindo Bhog rice - West Bengal
Kashmir Pashmina shawl
Nagpur orange
Banganappalli mango- Andhra Pradesh
Tiruppathi laddu- Andhra Pradesh
Darjiling tea- West Bengal
Chakhesang shawl - Nagaland
Pochampalli Ikat saree – Telangana
Geographical Indication (GI)
The Geographical Indication (GI) is name or sign used on certain products which correspond to specific geographical location or origin.
It is used for agricultural, natural and manufactured goods having special quality and established reputation.
The registration of a GI is valid for 10 years after which it needs to be renewed.
GI is covered as element of intellectual property rights (IPRs) under Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property.
At international level, GI is governed by WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).
In India, Geographical Indications are given under geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 by Indian Patent Office.