Andhra Pradesh’s Banganapalle mango gets Geographical Indication tag

The Banganapalle mango in the first week of May 2017 received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. This makes Andhra Pradesh the proprietor of the variety known for its sweetness.

O P Gupta, the Registrar of Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai, accorded the registration following an application from Andhra Pradesh Horticulture Commissioner.

The Andhra Pradesh government is the registered proprietor of the GI tag for Banganapalle mangoes, often hailed as “the king of fruits.”

What is a GI tag?

• A geographical indication is a name or sign used on certain products, which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin.

• The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 came into force with effect from 15 September 2003.

• GIs have been defined under Article 22(1) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS) Agreement as: "Indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or a locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographic origin."

• The tag ensures that none other than those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name.

• Darjeeling tea was the first GI tagged product in India.

About Banganapalle mango

• Banganapalle mango is generally known as The King of Mangoes. It also known as Beneshan, Baneshan, Benishan, Chappatai and Safeda.

• These mangoes are large sized, weighing on an average 350-400 grams.

• The pulp is fibreless, firm and yellow with sweet taste.

• These mangoes have been grown for over 100 years in the state.