Pakistan has won the Geographical Identity (GI) tag for its basmati rice in a significant development for rice exports.
The tag was issued by the GI Registry to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), which had applied for the GI tag of Basmati rice, as detailed (Intellectual Property Organization).
India’s claim to the nationality of basmati rice in the European Union would be undermined by the decision.
“Congratulations to Pakistan, a groundbreaking achievement in the field of geographical indication for intellectual property. Meesaq Arif, Executive Director, Intellectual Property Organization Pakistan, tweeted that TDAP has been awarded the Basmati rice Geographical Indication tag by the GI Registry (IPO), the first ever GI in Pakistan.
Though praising the IPO and the Ministry of Commerce, Arif believed that the security of Pakistan would reinforce our European Union case against the Indian assertion of the exclusive basmati GI name.
It should be noted that Geographical Indications (GIs) are types of intellectual property rights (IPRs) that define a product originating in a particular region whose origin is due to its quality or reputation.
Back in December, the Pakistan Rice Exporters Association (Reap) filed a ‘notice of opposition’ against the assertion of India on the Basmati Geographical Indicator (GI) in the European Union.
Reap has taken this move on behalf of Pakistani rice exporters and farmers who are at risk of losing billions of dollars in revenue. Pakistan has a booming Basmati export industry, making Pakistan one of the world’s top five rice exporters.
The Reap has previously been active in the creation and revision of the UK Code of Practice and in the organization of international trade delegations to encourage Basmati exports from Pakistan. By standing up for the protection of Pakistan’s heritage, Reap has built on its reputation as a responsible and successful association.
