Machilipatnam imitation jewellery loses GI battle

HYDERABAD: The famous Machilipatnam imitation jewellery lost the battle for Geographical Indicator (GI) tag. The GI Registry, based at Chennai, refused to grant GI tags as the Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery Park Members Welfare Association failed to substantiate the claim with historical data and even Andhra Pradesh handicrafts department did not come to their rescue.
In his order for refusal of GI tag to Machilipatnam imitation jewellery, deputy registrar of Geographical Indications, Chinnaraja G Naidu, said, “We received the application in August 2013.In 2015, the application was examined by an expert committee which served a report citing the deficiencies, but there was no reply. In March 2019, the GI agent appearing for the applicant argued that the product has sufficient reputation in the market and lengthy historical background.”

The Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery Park is located at Pothepalle in Krishna district. The application of Machilipatnam Imitation Jewellery Park Members Welfare Association, represented by president P Satyanaryaan Rao, said there are 4,000 families, including manufacturers, traders and sellers, involved in the imitation jewellery industry.
“In 2013 itself, the estimated total production of Machilipatnam imitation jewellery was 88 lakh pieces per annum and the annual turnover was Rs 22 crore, and it has increased multi-fold now. We produce high-quality raw materials and a group of artisans make it into jewellery with high skill and we use a unique process,” the association members said.
In the examination report, the GI registry directed the applicant to produce the documentary evidence concerning the historical data for the gazetteer and proof of origin for the product. The GI registry also sought a detailed report on specifications, process and method of production adopted by the producers with specific uniqueness. However, the applicant failed to provide evidence. The applicant has a provision to appeal in Intellectual Property Appellate Board at Chennai.
Earlier, Hyderabad Biryani did not get the GI tag as the applicant failed to produce proper documentation regarding origin. The Deccani Biryani Makers’ Association had lost the legal fight after nine years of filing the application to get the GI tag. They had applied to obtain GI tag for ‘Hyderabadi Katchi Ghost Biryani’ in 2009 and the application was decided in 2017.