SRINAGAR, JULY 25: In a decisive move to protect the authenticity and heritage of Kashmir’s world-renowned handicrafts, the Department of Handicrafts and Handloom, Kashmir, has issued a stern seven-day ultimatum to all registered craft dealers to immediately remove machine-made products—primarily imported from countries like Turkey and Iran—from their showrooms. Failure to comply will result in blacklisting and deregistration under the Jammu & Kashmir Tourist Trade Act, 1978.
The notice, issued under No. H&HD/DDQC/TTA/95/2025 dated 25.07.2025, reiterates that registered dealers had pledged—via sworn affidavits—to sell only genuine, handmade Kashmiri handicrafts at their establishments. Recent inspections by the department, however, revealed several violations, with some dealers found displaying and selling machine-made items falsely marketed as authentic Kashmiri crafts.
“These deceptive practices not only damage the reputation of our traditional artisans but also mislead customers who come seeking the authenticity that Kashmir’s handicrafts are known for,” said an official spokesperson of the Handicrafts and Handloom Department.
Inspections conducted by the Director Handicrafts and Handloom, Director IICT, and the Quality Control Division’s Inspection Squad covered key tourist areas such as Nishat, Nehru Park, and Munawarabad. Offending showrooms were warned to immediately withdraw machine-made products from display or face strict action, including deregistration and penalties.
In light of growing concerns around counterfeit labelling and misbranding, the department emphasized that many handicrafts from Kashmir are protected under the Geographical Indication (GI) of Goods Act. As part of measures to protect the region’s cultural identity and ensure product authenticity, the department has rolled out GI-based QR code labelling—facilitated at PTQCC, IICT, and Quality Control labs.
The notice cited a recent case in which a dealer was caught affixing a fake QR label to a machine-made carpet, misrepresenting it as handmade. The said dealer was promptly blacklisted and deregistered, reinforcing the department’s zero-tolerance stance on fraudulent practices.
All registered dealers are now mandated to ensure that only authentic, handmade Kashmir handicraft products are on display within the next seven days. GI certification and other relevant documentation must also be visibly placed in showrooms for consumer transparency and official inspection.
The notice further states that machine-made items are strictly banned from being sold or displayed in showrooms registered under the handicraft or handloom categories. Any form of misbranding—including use of fake QR codes or removal of machine-made product labels—will attract stringent action under the Quality Control Act, the J&K Registration of Tourist Trade Act, the GI Act, and relevant provisions of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Additionally, the department has advised all unregistered dealers and hawkers involved in the trade of Kashmiri handicrafts to approach the Quality Control Division immediately for registration under the J&K Tourist Trade Act, 1978.
This move reflects the administration’s strong commitment to preserving the integrity, identity, and global reputation of Kashmir’s centuries-old handicraft traditions, while supporting genuine artisans and protecting unsuspecting buyers from fraudulent trade practices.
