Assam orthodox tea gets "Geographical Indications" status

Guwahati, Dec 9 (ANI): Assam orthodox tea has been given "Geographical Indications" status (GI), which will help it to get recognition globally.

Union Minister for State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh, officially announced GI status for Assam orthodox tea at the Guwahati Tea Auction Centre recently. The authorities are now looking forward to get GI status of Europe for Assam orthodox tea.

"We are going to be applying for Assam orthodox tea GI status in Europe. We are exporting about 50 million kg of Assam orthodox tea. We hope that once we get the GI in Europe, this would further add to the income of the tea industry in Assam," said Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Power.

Orthodox tea is the second Assam product to bag the GI label after Muga silk. The GI label is exclusive to only a handful of generically identifiable products such as Swiss watches, Czech crystals, Champagne, Mysore sandalwood oil and Kancheepuram silk.

"We have an identity of Assam orthodox tea. Identity has been formally recognized by getting the GI indication registration. So, when we want to go to international market, when we want to sell our tea in international market, we have an identity," said Pradyut Bordoloi, Commerce Minister, Assam.

There are certain requirements that the product has to fulfill before getting the GI status. The products should have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities special to that particular state or place of origin to qualify for the GI status.

The GI status is going to provide immense benefits to Assam tea as it would now prevent its replication in any other part of the globe.

Darjeeling tea which had got the GI status in 2003 is incidentally the first Indian product to get the certificate.

Assam tea is expected to reach new heights making a mark internationally with the recent conferring of Geographical Indications label, GI status to the orthodox Assam tea.

Assam with its 800-odd tea gardens produces more than 50 per cent of India's total tea production. Last year, it produced about 500 million kg of tea. India is the largest exporter of tea. By Peter Alex Todd (ANI)