The Application for Geographical Indication may be filed by either a Legal Practitioner or a Registered Agent. The Application must include the details of the uniqueness and specialty of the proposed Geographical Indication and the steps taken to maintain the standards of the same. It should also shed some light on the inspection process and the details of the regulations of the same in the Geographical Indication which it relates.

The Application should be in the following prescribed manner:

• a. Made in triplicate
• b. Application to be signed by the applicant or his/her agent accompanied by a statement of cause.
• c. Three certified copies of the map of the region to which the Geographic Indication relates.
• d. Applicant to provide the details of the applicant’s location. In case of a large number of producers a collective reference to all the producers of the goods and the Geographic Indication to be made in the application.

The Application is to be sent to the following address:

Geographical Indications Registry Intellectual Property Office Building Industrial Estate, G.S.T Road Guindy, Chennai – 600 032 Phone: 044 – 22502091-93 & 98 Fax: 044 – 22502090 E-mail:gir-ipo@nic.in Website: ipindia.gov.in

The Examiner scrutinizes the application and reverts to the applicant regarding any deficiencies in the application. It is incumbent on the applicant to rectify the same. Post this a group of experts well acquainted with the proposed Geographic Indication and the nature of the product peruses the statement of cause and ascertain the correctness of the same. An examination report is issued thereafter.

The Registrar communicates the applicant with respect to any objections he/she may deem fit. The applicant has 2 (two) months to respond to such objections or apply for a hearing. The Registrar communicates his/her decision post which the applicant is free to appeal within 1 (one) month. After hearing the applicant it is well within the Registrar’s power to withdraw the application in case the same has been accepted in error.

An application within 3 (three) months of getting accepted is to be published in the Geographic Indication Journal.

Once the application has been published in the journal any person may file a notice of opposition within 3 (three) months of the publication which may be extended by 1 (one) month. The Registrar must the copy of such notice of opposition to the applicant. The applicant has 2 (two) months from thereon to submit a counter statement. In the event the applicant fails to submit the counter statement the same shall be deemed to have abandoned the application. In case a counter statement is filed the Registrar shall serve the copy of the same to the party that filed the notice of opposition. After the submission of notice of opposition and the counter statement the parties shall submit supporting documents and evidence by way of affidavit, post this a date for hearing shall be fixed.

In the event the application has been accepted the Registrar will register the Geographical Indication and the date of filing the application shall be deemed to be the date of registration. The Registrar will also issue a certificate to the applicant with the seal of the Geographical Indication Registry.

A registered Geographical Indication is valid for 10 years from the date of registration and can be renewed every 10 years by remitting of the renewal fee.