ISLAMABAD, May 20: The Agriculture produce development authority (APDA) of India has lodged a complaint with Pakistan’s trade mark registration office against the move of Basmati Growers Association (BGA) seeking ownership rights of basmati rice.

Reliable sources told Dawn on Saturday that the APDA had challenged the Pakistani growers’ application filed with the office of registrar of trade marks in Karachi for a collective trade mark, which would automatically grant exclusive rights to the BGA.

The sources said that the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP), Karachi; the Wholesale Grocers Group besides, some other Pakistani individuals, including growers and exporters, have also filed the opposition within the stipulated time with the registration office.

According to the sources, in case the issue was not resolved timely, it would have serious repercussions on the export of basmati rice. Pakistan exported 707,997 tons of basmati during the July-March period this year as against 601,260 tons during the same period last year, an increase of 17.75 per cent.

While in value term, the export of basmati rose by 24.20 per cent to $395.609 million during the period under review as against $318.524 million over the same period last year.

The BGA at present is the seven-member appointed body with the blessing of the ministry of commerce; the sources said adding that it cannot represent the whole basmati growing areas.

The rice stakeholders had already held a meeting with the senior officials of the ministry on May 18, to resolve the differences among the various stakeholders over the issue.

Pakistan is signatory, like India, to various international conventions including the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Paris Convention, and the WTO etc., which provide for reciprocal protection.

The entire basmati rice chain in Pakistan comprising of all basmati growing areas would require all stakeholders—millers, wholesalers, retailers and Exporters— to seek a certification from the BGA otherwise they would be subject to sever punishment.

This means that those people, who did not have any valid license or violate the terms and conditions laid down by BGA under the authorised user rights, shall be facing penalty up to Rs5 million besides, other stern actions, including confiscation of the commodity.

The sources said that the Reap had convened a meeting in Lahore on Monday to formulate the future course of action against the BGA’s move.

The sources claimed that basmati was the common heritage of entire people of the basmati growing areas of Pakistan and, therefore, geographical indications protection for basmati should only be applied for by a government body on behalf of them instead of any sub-group like the growers.

According to the sources, the regulatory body, which functions honestly without conflict of interests, should also be a government body only. “Should this not happen, it can mean serious hurdles in basmati rice export besides, many avenues for corruption,” the sources added.