EU wines, spirits, cheese may lose exclusive GI shield in India as FTA talks stall
India is unlikely to grant the EU exclusive geographical indication marketing rights for its wines, spirits and cheese amid stalled FTA negotiations and Brussels' backing of a UN Kashmir resolution. ₹9,000 crore of EU products are at stake; India is pushing reciprocal GI recognition for Basmati (₹2,000 crore) and Darjeeling tea.
What happened
India-EU FTA · EU may lose exclusive GI marketing rights for wines, spirits and cheese in India amid stalled FTA talks, after EU backed UN resolution on
Key facts
- ₹9,000 crore EU products market
- ₹2,000 crore Basmati market
- 231 spirit GIs
- 165 agricultural GIs
Why this matters
Window remains open for Indian F&B brands to lock in category-defining naming rights and licensing deals before any future FTA closes the GI gap, while EU-linked JV structures should be stress-tested against a non-exclusive GI scenario.
Also reported by
- The Hindu BusinessLine — Same time