Hilsa gets GI recognition

Hilsa will be on the menu in different countries as a Geographical Indication or GI product of Bangladesh with the local patent authorities moving to register it.

The Department of Patents, Designs, and Trademarks or DPDT published a gazette on June 1 inviting objections, if any, within two months, to GI registration of Hilsa.

The department is now registering the fish as a GI product as no complaint was made following the gazette, DPDT Registrar Md Sanwar Hossain said on Monday, reports bdnews24.com.

He said the certificate on Hilsa's GI registration will soon be handed to the Department of Fisheries, which applied for the registration last year.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, a Geographical Indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a particular geographic origin, possess, qualities, or a reputation that are due to that origin.

GI indication of goods acts as the "claim to fame" for a state.

Bangladesh made the GI law - the Geographical Indicative Products (Registration and Protection) Act - in 2013. A GI policy was made in line with the law after another two years.

Later, measures were taken to register traditional 'Jamdani' saree, delicacy 'Rasmalai,' and textile 'Khadi'.

The DPDT recognised 'Jamdani' saree as the first GI product of Bangladesh last year.

Its Registrar Sanwar said after the recognition of Hilsa as GI product, it will be sold as a brand abroad and consumers will be able to recognise the product correctly.

Referring to a research, he said consumers are always interested to pay 10 to 30 per cent more to buy quality products.

"This is the financial benefit (of GI registration)," he added.

Bangladesh is the top Hilsa producer in the world, contributing 75 per cent to the production. Myanmar produces 15 per cent, India 5 per cent and the rest comes from other countries.

Bangladesh's Hilsa is popular for its taste and flavour. The demand for Bangladesh's Hilsa is very high in India.