4th Handicrafts Quality Control Council meeting held

Major decisions taken to promote GI/Non GI Labeled Handicraft products

 SRINAGAR, September 22:  A 4th meeting of the Handicrafts Quality Control Council was today held under the chairmanship of Director Handicrafts and Handloom Kashmir, Mahmood Ahmad Shah to formulate a uniform process of labelling and quick-response coding (QR) of Non-GI products. 

QR code is part of the serious effort by the Jammu and Kashmir government to improve buyer confidence and adequately promote handmade works. The initiative is aimed at fair trade practice at a time when the handicraft sector is exhibiting a strong revival with exports.

The meeting witnessed all the stakeholders come together to discuss and address issues related the process and pricing of the labels and it was decided that nominal price shall be charged for labelling of the products.

Director Handicrafts and Handloom passed on the spot directions to provide doorstep facilities for the manufacturers having bulk stock of notified craft items at workplaces of the applicants.

Department is in process to achieve the accreditation from National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) by upgrading the existing lab facilities in Quality Control Division of the department.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Director Quality Control, Director IICT Srinagar, President KCCI, Representatives from Tahafuz and MEERAS societies and other senior officers of the department.