Srinagar, July 25, KDC: In an unprecedented step, the handicrafts and handloom department, Kashmir today issued a notice, which gave a seven-day ultimatum to Kashmir handicraft dealers to remove all machine-made products, exclusively, lawroom from their showrooms.
Addressing the dealers, the notice, issued 25.07.2025 dated VID number HD/DidicUC/TTA/95/2025, reads that, “You have been provided registration under the provisions of Jammu and Kashmir Tourist Trade Act, 1978, which is for the sale of Kashmir handicraft products for your respective annexer show.” As part of the registration process, the notice has written that the craft dealers have presented a duly-Shaleen affidavit, in which they have undertake to exclude and sell the real Kashmir handicraft products in their commercial establishment.
The notice further stated that under the ‘violation of rules’ section that during recent inspections by this office, it was found that many dealers have violated the extinct rules by displaying and selling machine-made products, which have been incorrectly presented as real Kashmir handicrafts. Such misconduct weakens the authenticity and reputation of Kashmir handicrafts, reads notice.
In a press release, an official spokesperson of Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir said that in response to these violations, the office has imposed a fine on the defaulting dealers as per the provisions of J&K registration of the Tourist Trade Act, 1978. Nehru Park and Munavarabad, the showrooms immediately warns to remove machine-made products, fail, which will be blacklist and de-seized, ”he said.
In addition, under the GI Labeling and Missbranding Consuned section, the notice states that many Kashmir handicrafts have been registered under the Geographical Indication of Goods Act (GI), Registry of India, Chennai to protect their authenticity. To curb missbranding and promote real products, the department has introduced GI-based QR labeling for various crafts in PTQCC, IICT and quality control labs. “However, it has come to our notice that a dealer recently pasted a fake QR label on a machine-made carpet, incorrectly presented as a real handmade product. As a result, the said dealer has been blacklisted and deragistor,” the notice further reads.
According to the notice, all registered dealers have been directed to ensure that their showrooms exclude and sell actually real Kashmir handicraft products and no machine-manufactured products are displayed or sold.
The spokesperson further stated that the notice directs the concerned Kashmir handicraft dealers to ensure all relevant documents, including GI labeling certificates, are prominently displayed in the craft showrooms for inspection and sales purposes.
Quoting the notice, the spokesperson stated that machine-made products have been banned from being sold or displayed in the Kashmir handicraft showroom, registered under handicraft or handloom categories, and to attract any violation and incorrect fake QR code and to attract the relevant provisions for touring. Bharia Judge Code.
He further said that the notice warned of non-non-compliance results. It reads that failure to comply with this instruction within the stipulated period resulted in appropriate action under the provisions of J&K Tourism Trade Act, 1978, including punishment, deragistation, blacklisting or other legal measures.
In addition, it advised all the unregistered dealers/ hawkers working in the business of Kashmir Handicrafts to contact the Handicrafts and Handloom Department’s Quality Control Division for registration of their establishments under J&K registration of the Tourist Trade Act, 1978. (KDC).
