Duplicate versions of Geographical Indication (GI) registered handloom products are being manufactured by the mechanized sector of the textiles and are sold in market by some textile marketing companies hampering the niche market of these products , said the Textiles Ministry on Wednesday in a press release.

Recently, Ministry of Textiles has received complaints from various handloom associations/unions that due to encroachment of duplicate versions of famous GI registered handloom products on their registered geographical indications, it is not only hampering the nice market but also affecting their goodwill adversely and shrinking their market value.

The ministry saida that the registered users of GI registered products have rights under the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999, to approach respective police authorities to safeguard their interests against such illegal manufacturing/marketing of GI registered handloom products.

An FIR was filed on December 17, 2015 in the Pochampally Police Station, Telangana by the authorised users of the GI registered handloom products of pochampally ikat sarees against the sellers/manufacturers for selling/manufacturing duplicate GI registered product.

The ministry said that the authorized officers of the central and state governments are directed from time to time to pay special attention to the complaints on faking of GI registered handlooms products.

Handloom items are registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection), Act, 1999. 48 important and traditional handloom products are registered under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection), Act, 1999.