(1)

With a view to the fulfilment of a treaty, convention or arrangement with any country or a country which is a member of a group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisations outside India which affords to citizens of India similar privileges as granted to its own citizens, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare such country or group of countries or union of countries or Inter-Governmental Organisations to be a convention country or convention countries for the purposes of this Act.

(2)

Nothing contained in this Act or the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (47 of 1999) shall prevent a continued and similar use of geographical indication relating to a country or a country which is a member of a group of countries or union of countries or any Inter-Governmental Organisations, as the case may be, notified under sub-section (1) identifying wines or spirits in connection with goods by any citizen or domiciliary of such country who has used that geographical indication in continuous manner with regard to such goods or any goods relating to such goods, as the case may be, in any part of the territory of that country either—

(a) for at least ten years preceding the 15th day of April, 1994; or

(b) in good faith preceding the date referred to in clause (a).