Govt cracks down on misbranding: Handicrafts dealers warned to stop selling machine-made products
Srinagar, July 25 (KINS): In a bid to safeguard the authenticity and global reputation of Kashmir’s traditional handicrafts, the Directorate of Handicrafts & Handloom, Kashmir, has issued a stern warning to all registered handicrafts dealers, directing them to cease the sale and display of machine-made products misrepresented as genuine handmade items.
A general notice issued by the department’s Quality Control Division on Friday said several violations were found during recent inspections, including the misbranding of machine-made goods as authentic Kashmiri handicrafts. One such case involved the use of a fake QR label pasted on a machine-made carpet to falsely claim it as a handmade item. The concerned dealer has since been blacklisted and deregistered, officials said.
“All registered dealers must ensure that within seven days from the issuance of this notice, their showrooms display and sell only genuine handmade Kashmir handicrafts,” the notice reads. “Machine-made products are strictly banned in registered handicraft showrooms.”
The notice also stressed strict adherence to the Geographical Indication (G.I.) Act, under which several Kashmiri crafts are protected. The department has introduced G.I. labelling to help customers verify the authenticity of products. Dealers have been asked to display all relevant documents and G.I. certifications prominently for customer awareness and official inspections.
“Any misbranding, including pasting of fake QR codes or removing machine-made tags, will invite penal action under the J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act, the G.I. Act, the Quality Control Act, and relevant provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita,” the notice warned.
Furthermore, unregistered dealers and hawkers have been advised to get their establishments registered immediately with the Quality Control Division to avoid legal consequences.
The department also asked dealers to update their showroom signage to explicitly declare that only handmade Kashmir handicrafts are sold and no machine-made goods are dealt with.
The move comes amid growing concerns that misrepresentation and counterfeit products are damaging the brand value of Kashmir’s centuries-old handicraft tradition, which supports thousands of artisans across the valley. (KINS)
