India achieved a significant milestone in agricultural exports with the first-ever air shipment of GI-tagged Indi Lime (Karnataka) and Puliyankudi Lime (Tamil Nadu) to the United Kingdom in October 2025. The export, facilitated by APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) under the Ministry of Commerce, consisted of 500 kg of high-quality limes—350 kg from Vijayapura and 150 kg from Tenkasi. This marks India’s growing capability to supply niche, region-specific, high-value agricultural products to premium global markets such as the UK and Europe, where demand for organically grown and traceable produce is rising. APEDA had earlier enabled the export of 3 MT of Swadeshi Indi Lime to the UAE, suggesting expanding international acceptance.
The success of these exports is closely linked to the Geographical Indication (GI) regime. A GI is a legal tag that protects products possessing qualities or characteristics specific to their geographic origin—shaped by soil, climate, traditional practices, and cultural heritage. The Geographical Indications of Goods Act, 1999
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