How to Check if a Product Has GI Tag and Verify Its Authenticity

A product carries a genuine GI tag when its name appears in the official GI Registry database, it displays the tricolour GI logo, and its seller is listed as a registered authorized user under Part B of the Registry. 5 verification methods exist to confirm GI tag authenticity: GI Registry database search, GI logo identification, certificate number check, category-specific markers, and seller authorization verification.

Geographical Indication (GI) tag verification protects buyers from counterfeit products that misuse protected names. This guide covers every step to verify GI tagged products across all 5 categories: agriculture, handicrafts, textiles, manufactured goods, and foodstuff.

What Does a GI Tag on a Product Mean?

A GI tag on a product means the product originates from a specific geographical region and carries qualities, reputation, or characteristics linked to that place of origin, as certified by the GI Registry under the GI Act 1999.

Geographical Indication is a form of intellectual property protection governed by the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999. The GI Registry in Chennai, operating under the Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (CGPDTM) within the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), processes and registers all GI applications in India.

GI tag certification confirms 3 things about a product:

1. Origin – the product comes from the designated geographical area
2. Method – the product follows the traditional production process
3. Quality – the product meets the quality standards associated with that region

Darjeeling Tea is a GI tagged product (Registration No. 1) that certifies only tea grown in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal qualifies for this name. Kanchipuram Silk Saree carries a GI tag confirming the saree is handwoven in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu using pure mulberry silk.

Understanding the meaning and purpose of Geographical Indication tags helps buyers recognize what GI certification guarantees and what it does not.

How to Verify GI Tag Authenticity Using the GI Registry Database?

Buyers can verify GI tag authenticity by searching the GI Registry public portal at search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/, checking Part A for registered GI product names, and checking Part B for authorized users who hold legal rights to sell GI tagged products.

The GI Registry database is the most reliable verification tool. It is maintained by the Indian government and updated with every new registration. 3 steps complete the verification process.

Step 1 – Open the GI Registry Public Search Portal

The official GI Registry public search portal is accessible at search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/. This portal is managed by the Intellectual Property India (IP India) office under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The portal displays two primary lists:

• Part A contains all registered Geographical Indications
• Part B contains all registered authorized users

Buyers benefit from using the portal directly rather than relying on third-party websites. The IP India portal at ipindia.gov.in also maintains a downloadable list of registered GIs organized by state, category, and registration year.

Step 2 – Search the Registered GI List (Part A)

Part A of the GI Registry confirms whether a product name holds valid GI registration. Search by the product name (for example, “Darjeeling Tea” or “Kashmir Pashmina”) to find its registration details.

The Part A listing shows 5 key data points for each registered GI:

1. Application number and registration number
2. Product name and class of goods
3. Geographical area of production
4. Name of the registered proprietor (usually a producer association or cooperative)
5. Date of registration and filing

India has over 600 registered GI products as of 2026, according to the GI Registry records. The GI tag registration process in India follows a 7-stage legal procedure before a product receives GI status.

Products with pending applications appear in the GI Journal, a publication issued by the Registry for public examination and objection. A product listed in the GI Journal but not yet in Part A does not carry full GI protection.

Step 3 – Check the Authorized User List (Part B)

Part B of the GI Registry lists producers and manufacturers authorized to use the GI tag on their products. This is the most important step for verifying whether a seller has the legal right to sell GI tagged products.

An authorized user is a producer or manufacturer registered with the GI Registry through Form GI-3. Only authorized users hold the legal right to use the GI tag, GI logo, and GI registration number on their products and packaging.

Buyers need to ask the seller for their authorized user registration details. Cross-check the seller’s name, location, and registration number against the Part B list on the GI Registry portal.

A seller who cannot provide authorized user details or whose name does not appear in Part B is not legally permitted to sell products under that GI tag.

How to Identify the Official GI Tag Logo on Products?

The official GI logo is a tricolour design launched in 2018 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, carrying the tagline “Invaluable Treasures of Incredible India” in English and “Atulya Bharat Ki Amulya Nidhi” in Hindi.

What Does the GI Logo Look Like?

The GI logo uses India’s national tricolour scheme. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry unveiled this common logo for all registered Geographical Indications on 1 August 2018. The logo functions as a certification mark, similar to how the registered trademark symbol (R) works for trademarks.

2 important restrictions apply to the GI logo:

1. Only Indian GI products registered in India qualify to display this logo
2. Foreign GI products, whether registered in India or not, cannot use this logo

The DPIIT has also published a Digital Catalogue of registered Indian GIs. Each product in this catalogue carries a QR code that links to the list of registered manufacturers, growers, and authorized sellers for that GI product. Scanning the QR code provides instant verification of the producer’s authorization status.

Where Does the GI Logo Appear on Product Packaging?

The GI logo appears on product labels, packaging stickers, certificates, and promotional materials of registered GI products. Its placement varies by product category:

• Textiles and sarees: Woven into the label attached to the saree, or printed on the packaging box
• Agriculture products: Printed on packaging cartons, bags, or container labels
• Handicrafts: Attached as a sticker or printed on the certificate of authenticity
• Foodstuff: Printed on packaging alongside FSSAI license details
• Manufactured goods: Embossed or printed on product packaging

Products that display the GI logo without holding valid registration in Part A of the GI Registry are in violation of the GI Act 1999.

What Are the Category-Specific Verification Methods for GI Products?

Verification methods differ by product category because textiles carry Silk Mark and Handloom Mark alongside GI tags, food products require FSSAI licensing, and handicrafts use artisan authentication cards issued by cooperatives.

How to Verify GI Tagged Textiles and Sarees

GI tagged textile products in India carry additional verification markers beyond the GI tag:

1. Silk Mark – issued by the Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), confirms the saree or fabric contains genuine silk. Silk Mark labels carry a unique holographic sticker and a verification number.
2. Handloom Mark – issued by the Office of the Development Commissioner (Handlooms), confirms the product is handwoven on a traditional loom.
3. Weaver cooperative tags – cooperatives like KSIC (Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation) for Mysore Silk issue their own product tags with weaver details.

A Kanchipuram Silk Saree with valid GI tag carries the GI logo, a Silk Mark label, and a tag identifying the weaving cooperative or authorized producer in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

Checking the body-border join (separate border woven and attached is a mark of original Kanchipuram), zari purity, and the weight of the saree adds further verification alongside these certification markers.

How to Verify GI Tagged Food and Agriculture Products

GI tagged agriculture products of India require both GI certification and food safety compliance. 4 verification checks apply:

1. FSSAI license number – every packaged food product in India requires a valid FSSAI license. Check the 14-digit license number on the FSSAI website (fssai.gov.in).
2. Origin region labelling – the packaging must specify the geographical area of production. Alphonso Mango packaging mentions Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, or other designated districts of Maharashtra when genuine.
3. Harvest season alignment – GI tagged seasonal products have specific harvest windows. Alphonso Mangoes are available from March to June. Products sold outside their harvest window are either stored or not genuine.
4. Export certifications – products like Darjeeling Tea carry additional marks from the Tea Board of India and Darjeeling Tea Association for exported lots.

How to Verify GI Tagged Handicrafts

GI tagged handicraft products use artisan-level authentication:

1. Artisan authentication cards – some cooperatives and state emporiums issue cards with the artisan’s name, location, and craft specialization.
2. Cooperative certificates – products from government cooperatives (like Jammu and Kashmir Handicrafts Development Corporation for Kashmir Pashmina) carry cooperative-issued certificates.
3. Origin district verification – genuine Bidriware comes only from Bidar, Karnataka. Channapatna Toys come only from Channapatna, Karnataka. The seller must name the specific origin district.

Products sold through government emporiums (Cottage Emporium, Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan, state handicraft emporia) carry higher authenticity assurance because these outlets source directly from registered artisans.

What Are the Red Flags for Fake GI Tagged Products?

Fake GI tagged products display missing registration numbers, vague origin claims, prices far below market rates, and marketing phrases that avoid the official GI designation while imitating the product name.

8 red flags indicate a potentially fake GI tagged product:

1. No GI registration number on packaging. Every genuine GI product can reference its registration number from Part A of the GI Registry.
2. Marketing phrases like “inspired by” or “in the style of.” These phrases signal that the product imitates a GI product without holding GI certification. “Banarasi style saree” is not a GI tagged Banarasi saree.
3. Price significantly below market rate. A Kanchipuram Silk Saree costs Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 or more depending on zari content. A “Kanchipuram Silk Saree” priced at Rs 500 is not genuine.
4. Seller cannot name the origin district. A legitimate seller of Darjeeling Tea names Darjeeling district, West Bengal. A seller who says “Assam or Darjeeling area” does not sell verified GI products.
5. No authorized user registration details. The seller avoids or cannot provide their Part B registration details when asked.
6. Machine-made products sold as handmade. GI tags for textiles like Kanchipuram Silk and Chanderi Sarees certify handloom production. Machine-woven products with these names violate GI protection.
7. Missing complementary certifications. A GI tagged silk product without Silk Mark raises questions. A GI tagged food product without FSSAI license is a compliance violation.
8. Generic product images. The seller uses stock photos instead of actual product images showing the GI logo, certificates, or artisan details.

Buyers who identify counterfeit GI products can buy authentic GI tagged products from verified sellers through platforms that verify seller authorization before listing.

What Complementary Certifications Work Alongside GI Tags?

GI tags work alongside 5 complementary certifications in India: Silk Mark for silk authenticity, Handloom Mark for handwoven textiles, FSSAI for food safety, India Organic (NPOP) for organic claims, and BIS for manufactured goods quality standards.

Certification	Issuing Body	What It Verifies	Product Categories
Silk Mark	Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI)	Silk fibre authenticity	Silk textiles, sarees
Handloom Mark	Development Commissioner (Handlooms)	Handwoven on traditional loom	Handloom textiles
FSSAI License	Food Safety and Standards Authority of India	Food safety compliance	Food, agriculture, foodstuff
India Organic (NPOP)	APEDA under Ministry of Commerce	Organic farming standards	Agriculture products
BIS Certification	Bureau of Indian Standards	Product quality standards	Manufactured goods

GI tag certification and complementary marks serve different purposes. GI tag confirms origin and production method. Complementary marks confirm material authenticity, safety compliance, or quality grade.

A product carrying both GI tag and the relevant complementary certification provides the strongest authenticity assurance. Darjeeling Tea with GI tag plus Tea Board of India certification confirms both geographical origin and tea quality grading. Kanchipuram Silk Saree with GI tag plus Silk Mark confirms both Kanchipuram origin and genuine silk content.

GI tag verification requires checking multiple sources because no single marker guarantees complete authenticity. The GI Registry database confirms legal registration, the GI logo confirms visual compliance, and category-specific certifications confirm material and production authenticity.

Frequently Asked Questions About GI Tag Verification

Can a Product Claim GI Tag Without Registration?

No. A product cannot legally claim GI tag status without valid registration in Part A of the GI Registry. The GI Act 1999 provides civil and criminal remedies against unauthorized use of a registered Geographical Indication. Products using GI names without registration face legal action from the registered proprietor and authorized users. Only products registered through the formal application process at the GI Registry in Chennai hold valid GI status.

Does a GI Tag Guarantee Product Quality?

No. A GI tag guarantees geographical origin and traditional production method, not the quality grade of a specific item. Two GI tagged Kanchipuram Silk Sarees can differ in silk quality, zari purity, and weave density. The GI tag confirms both sarees originate from Kanchipuram and follow the traditional handloom weaving process. Quality differences depend on the artisan’s skill, raw material grade, and production investment. Checking complementary marks like Silk Mark and BIS alongside GI tags provides quality assurance.

How Long Does GI Tag Registration Last?

GI tag registration lasts 10 years from the date of registration and is renewable for successive 10-year periods. The registered proprietor must apply for renewal before the registration expires. Expired GI registrations lose legal protection until renewed. Buyers can check the registration date in Part A of the GI Registry to confirm the GI tag is currently active.

Where to Report Fake GI Tagged Products in India?

Buyers can report fake GI tagged products to the GI Registry in Chennai, the registered proprietor of the GI, or consumer protection forums. The GI Act 1999 treats unauthorized use of a registered GI as infringement. Complaints can be filed with the registered proprietor (usually a producer association), the CGPDTM office, or through the National Consumer Helpline (1800-11-4000). State consumer dispute redressal commissions also handle GI infringement complaints filed by consumers.

Is There a Mobile App to Verify GI Tags?

The DPIIT has developed a digital catalogue of registered Indian GIs with QR codes linking to authorized producer lists. This catalogue is accessible online through the DPIIT website. Some state governments and producer cooperatives have also developed product-specific verification tools. The IP India mobile app covers trademark and patent searches, and GI search features are being integrated into the digital infrastructure. Buyers can currently use the web-based GI Registry portal at search.ipindia.gov.in/GIRPublic/ for the most complete verification.