Rules of origin for indigenous products

EXPERTS on geographical indicative (GI) products have expressed concern on the lack of movement at policy level to formulate rules regarding patent rights. Their concern is justified given that without correct policy guidelines in place, it is impossible to register patents for traditional Bangladeshi products like jamdani, hilsa fish and nakshi kantha. GI goes beyond mere patenting as it is a method of certifying a product's qualities including identifying its place of origin and authenticity. Yet, with authorities' foot dragging on Geographical Indication Products (Registration and Protection) Act since November, 2013, the country faces real prospects of losing the patent rights to many of these traditional products to countries like India for example.
Traditional items such as the highly prized and lucrative Jamdani sarees are already under contestation. In 2009, India registered this product that has proven origins in Dhaka, as Uppada Jamdani. This was possible because at the time Bangladesh lacked the requisite law. Experts challenge the legality of such registration; however, it is incumbent upon the government to take up the cause in light of intellectual property rights. A failure to act can cost us dearly. We should move quickly to enact a law suitable to protect GI goods and commodities so as not to provide any undue advantage to any country. Because there has been no movement since 2012 when the first draft of the law was placed to the ministry, the urgency is even more pronounced that we have a law in place.