Duplicate versions of Geographical Indication (GI) registered handloom products are being manufactured by the mechanized sector of the textiles and are sold in market by some textile marketing companies hampering the niche market of these products, the textiles ministry in a release said.

Recently, ministry of textiles has received complaints from various handloom associations/unions that due to encroachment of duplicate versions of famous GI registered handloom products on their registered geographical indications, it is not only hampering the nice market but also affecting their goodwill adversely and shrinking their market value.

The ministry said that the registered users of GI registered products have rights under the provisions of the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act 1999, to approach respective police authorities to safeguard their interests against such illegal manufacturing/marketing of GI registered handloom products.

An FIR was filed on December 17, 2015 in the Pochampally Police Station, Telangana by the authorised users of the GI registered handloom products of pochampally in this regard.

The ministry said that the authorized officers of the central and state governments are directed from time to time to pay special attention to the complaints on faking of GI registered handlooms products.