Among developing countries, one can identify both proponents and opponents of extending the use of geographical indications (GIs) beyond wines and spirits. Such an extension is currently being discussed under the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization. While labeling is mostly based on private initiatives, GIs are considered to be long-term public rights. Proponents therefore regard GIs as the stronger tools for protecting their national property rights and offering them new opportunities to develop their export markets.
KOLKATA: A national committee on pesticide levels (known as minimum residue level (MRL)) in tea has been constituted under the aegis of the Tea Board. This body is expected to be a nodal agency in this matter and will help formulate a national policy on MRL which often proves to be a non-tariff barrier which frustrates India
Agartala, Sept 30: Tea gardens in Tripura are facing shortage of labourers following the expansion of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) scheme in all four districts of the State.
GOING ORGANIC: Basudeb Banerjee (right), Chairman, Tea Board of India, shaking hands with Kaison Chang, Secretary, FAO IGG on Tea, at a press conference in Kolkata on Friday. Anne Boor (left), Project Director, INFOAM, and Nianjun Schen, Assistant Project Manager-Common Fund for Commodities, look on.
Ambootia tea garden (Kurseong), Sept. 18: A UN body will partially fund three pilot projects worth $4 million in India for creating a scientific system for cultivation of organic black tea.
Notwithstanding the Assam Tea Corporation (ATC)-run tea gardens' accumulated loss of Rs 200 crore since 2000 till 2006-07, the State Government was keen to revive the 15 ailing tea gardens, and a revival roadmap has already been drawn. Revealing this before the State Assembly while replying to a call attention by CPM legislator Ananta Deka, State Industries Minister Pradyut Bardoloi today said that the State Government had an obligation for the workers and employees of the ATC gardens and that the Government had spent an amount of Rs 108 crore for the gardens during 2001-07.
The Tea Research Association has maintained that the reported loss of tea crop this year cannot be attributed to the infestation by Helopeltis (commonly referred to as the tea mosquito bug) alone. Unfavourable weather conditions have played a part, too, in the production loss, said TRA director Dr Mridul Hazarika at a press conference held at the Cinnamara-based Tocklai Experimental Station here on Wednesday.
