. KATHMANDU: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supply, Gauri Kumari Yadav, has expressed commitment to introduce laws related to Geographical Indication (GI) for the protection and promotion of indigenous and indigenous products.
Minister Yadav and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative for Nepal, Ken Shimiju, held a meeting with Minister Yadav on Thursday and discussed the issues of branding, protection and ensuring international accreditation of indigenous products produced in different geographical areas of Nepal. During the meeting, FAO representative Simizu said that although most of the countries in the world and almost all the countries in Asia have implemented the GI system, Nepali indigenous products are not protected internationally due to the lack of legal provisions in Nepal. Stating that other countries were registering brands related to Nepali original products in the absence of GI registration, he said that Nepal has suffered direct economic and commercial loss due to this.
He stressed that the government should implement the GI system by making clear legal provisions to prevent such a situation.
In response, Minister Yadav said that the Ministry was committed to formulating necessary laws for identifying, protecting and marketing the indigenous products of Nepal.
Stating that preliminary initiatives have already been initiated in this regard, he said the GI Bill would be prepared and forwarded soon in coordination with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
With the implementation of the GI system, Nepal’s unique products including orthodox tea of Ilam, Marsi rice of Jumla, Dhaka of Palpa, khukuri of Bhojpur are expected to get legal protection and special recognition at the international level.
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