The new tea boutique inaugurated in Darjeeling on Wednesday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, June 21: The Tea Board of India is planning to register Darjeeling tea as a Geographical Indicator (GI) commodity with the European Union countries.

?The major importers of Darjeeling tea are the US, UK, Germany and Japan and we are already protected in the UK. We are looking at registering centrally in EU so that it covers the entire union,? said Basudeb Banerjee, chairman, Tea Board of India. By enrolling with the EU, the Darjeeling brew need not be registered with individual countries in that area.

A GI is a sign that indicates where a particular produce is coming from, investing it with certain special qualities or reputation. Not only with the place where the tea is produced, the brew is supposed have a similar registration with places where it is being exported.

The tea board move is expected to go a long way in protecting brand Darjeeling. India has already notified Darjeeling tea under the country?s Geographic Indicator of Good Registration and Protection Act.

The GI protection comes under the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectually Property Rights (Trips) legislation, which has been framed under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation.

According to Banerjee, the registration with the European Union countries could be completed within two months.

The tea board is also looking at the enrolment as a measure to put a stop to the pernicious practice of Darjeeling gardens mixing home-grown varieties with Nepal tea and passing them off as Darjeeling tea.

Though no enforcement agency in the tea growing district has been put in place so far, Banerjee said the issue will be discussed with the district administration soon.

Planters in Darjeeling also had good news awaiting them, with a special package n the offer. Though the details of the offer will be announced in November, a special funds will be provided for the hill estates for ?heavy pruning? apart from replanting, which is expected to be sanctioned for all tea growing regions in the country.

The much awaited Agri-Export Zone (AEZ) for Darjeeling tea is also expected to be implemented soon with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the state government, Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority and the tea board likely to be signed soon. The status will enable estates here to avail of various subsidies and concessions on government levies along with benefits for infrastructure development.