Geographical Indicator tag registered at Basmati rice
Geographical Indicator tag now registered at Pakistan Basmati rice under Geographical Indications Act 2020.
The REAP said that the registration of Basmati as GI in Pakistan will strengthen the case against India in the EU.
The Intellectual Property Organisation (IPO) issued the geographical indications registry certificate on Tuesday.
Razzak Dawood in a tweet also announced his pleasure that Pakistan has registered Basmati Rice as Geographical Indication (GI). Under this Act, a Geographical Index registry has been formed. It will register GIs and maintain the basic record of owners & authorized users of GI. This will provide protection of our products against any misuse. Therefore, it will guarantee the protection of share in the international market.
The registration of Basmati as a Geographical Indicator in Pakistan required teamwork between the public and private sector. Firstly, the federal government appointed the TDAP as a Registrant of Basmati. Secondly, TDAP made an application to register Basmati to Intellectual Property Organization (IPO). Thirdly, IPO asked assistance from Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku and REAP. IPO mapped the regions where Basmati grows. The IPO took recommendations from all provinces. Through different provinces and public-private cooperation, Pakistan has obtained the GI tag for its Basmati. It will strengthen the case against India in the European Union.
Since Basmati Rice brings higher prices than non-Basmati rice in international markets, India has announced to block Pakistan’s trade in the EU by declaring that its Basmati is the geographically original one. Pakistan has challenged this claim and by registering its own GI for Basmati it will claim the same protection of its Basmati in EU as India.
Pakistan fought against India for many years to register its Basmati rice. After fighting for so many years, Pakistan has officially won the case and got their Basmati rice registered as GI.
