After the US and some European countries like UK and Germany, the EU is contemplating granting GI status to Darjeeling tea, India’s finest tea. EU is seeking public opinion on the granting of a protection to the tea which calls for comments from people across the world. Darjeeling tea was the first GI to be registered in India and soon after it was accorded the GI status in other countries. It has also successfully averted its infringement in European nations against the use of the name for a clothing item. With the European Union granting Darjeeling Tea the status of a GI, it will bar all member-nations from passing their product off as Darjeeling Tea.

Connoisseurs assert that Darjeeling tea is the champagne of teas, since its flavor is as unique as cannot be replicated. The tea when brewed has a distinctive, naturally occurring aroma, mouth feel and taste and the infused leaf has a distinctive fragrance. The quality, reputation and characteristics of Darjeeling tea are essentially attributable to its geographical origin. Due to these special characteristics, the tea has acquired recognition in India and abroad as Darjeeling tea since a long time and any member of trade or public in India or abroad ordering Darjeeling tea or seeing tea so advertised or offered for sale, will expect it to be cultivated and grown in Darjeeling district having the aforesaid special characteristics. Darjeeling tea is India’s treasured Geographical Indication and forms a very important part of India’s cultural and collective intellectual heritage.

Geographical Indications, as under the international law, mean indications which identify a product as originating in the territory of a member, region, locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the product are essentially attributable to its geographical origin.

The EU has sought some clarifications from the Tea Board following the application for registration made in November 2007. It may take about 2 years for the verification process to be complete, and the actual grant of the GI status. A decision will be taken after 6 months, after the time for filling the objections concludes. However, some members of the Darjeeling Tea Association have expressed fears that many EU tea importers could try to oppose the move as this will hamper many interests. The Tea Board of India and Darjeeling Tea Association have been jointly taking steps to protect the Darjeeling name under the WTO convention, covering geographical indications of source. The Tea Board has been administering the use of Darjeeling tea name and logo for fair and competitive marketing of Indian tea in the international markets. Darjeeling Tea Association has approached EU for GI protection. The right bestowed by the GI forbids any entity or person from using the name in respect of any product not from the designated area.