Published on: December 24, 2022

Joynagar moa

Joynagar moa

Why in news? Joynagar moa, the popular Bengal sweetmeat available only during the colder months of the year, with the number of registered manufacturers witnessing a massive rise and its Geographical Indication tag getting a 10-year extension.

Highlights

About Joynagar Moa

  • It is a seasonal Bengali sweetmeat delicacy prepared from date palm jaggery and Kanakchur khoi.
  • Origination: Jaynagar of the South 24 Parganas district in the Indian state of West Bengal.
  • It is now a popular sweet, being produced in Kolkata and elsewhere, sometimes with cheaper ingredients and chemical flavours.
  • Jaynagarer Moa was given a Geographical Indication tag in 2015 which will enable the product to be protected from unauthorized uses and piracy.

About Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999

  • It is an act of Parliament of India for protection of geographical indications
  • India, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), enacted the Act to comply with the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
  • The GI tag ensures that only those registered as authorised users (or at least those residing inside the geographic territory) are allowed to use the popular product name.
  • First Product: Darjeeling tea
  • Duration : Initial period of ten years, which may be renewed from time to time