As tourist season knocks, Handicrafts Dept intensifies drive to weed out counterfeit products

SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 20 – Intensifying its enforcement drives to weed out sale of counterfeit products, the Quality Control Division of Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, today conducted inspections of various showrooms dealing in sale of hand-made products in Durganag and Dalgate sections of the City Centre, here.

During the inspections, craft dealers were advised to desist from selling machine-made items in the garb of genuine handmade products.
In an official press release issued here today, Deputy Director, Quality Control, Mirza Shahid Ali stated that with the advent of tourist season in Kashmir, the Department will intensify ongoing drives and ensure that buyers are sold certified hand-made products in various sale outlets in capital city and routes towards the famous health resorts of Gulmarg, Pahalgam and Sonamarg, which attract a heavy footfall of tourists. “The Quality Control wing has constituted various inspection squads which are regularly checking sale and purchase of genuine hand-made products,” he added.

The Deputy Director further stated that Government is exercising a zero-tolerance policy towards sale of counterfeit products in the name of hand-made products. “Anyone found misbranding of notified products would be dealt under the relevant provisions of Quality Control Act, 1976, including imposition of heavy penalties and cancellation of registration, including blacklisting,” he added.

Shahid Ali said the inspection drives shall continue on regular basis for maintaining highest standards of quality and customer service. “In order to promote sale of exquisite hand-made products, we urge stakeholders to approach our Department for GI tagging, testing and certification of their products at PTQCC, IICT and Quality Control labs, which shall ensure customer satisfaction and safeguard the rich heritage of Kashmir,” he added.