India’s Basmati claim to be challenged

Published October 6, 2020
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Razak Dawood categorically said that Pakistan will vehemently oppose India’s application in the European Union and restrain India from obtaining exclusive GI tag of Basmati rice. — PID Twitter/File
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Razak Dawood categorically said that Pakistan will vehemently oppose India’s application in the European Union and restrain India from obtaining exclusive GI tag of Basmati rice. — PID Twitter/File

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to file its opposition in the European Union in a reply to India’s claim of Geographical Indi­cation (GI) tag of Basmati rice.

This was decided during a meeting chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Razak Dawood. The meeting was attended by Secretary Commerce, Chairman, Intellectual Pro­perty Organisation (IPO-Pakistan), representatives of Rice Exporters Asso­ciation of Pakistan (Reap) and the legal fraternity.

An official statement issued after the meeting said that Reap representatives were of the view that Pakistan is a major grower and producer of Basmati rice and India’s claim for exclusivity is unjustified.

Mr. Dawood categorically said that Pakistan will vehemently oppose India’s application in the European Union and restrain India from obtaining exclusive GI tag of Basmati rice. He further supported the concerns of Reap and relevant stakeholders and ensured that their claim for Basmati rice as GI will be protected.

It is pertinent to mention that India submitted an application in the EU claiming sole ownership of Basmati rice, falsely misrepresenting its exclusivity.

Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2020

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

IMF’s unease
Updated 24 May, 2024

IMF’s unease

It is clear that the next phase of economic stabilisation will be very tough for most of the population.
Belated recognition
24 May, 2024

Belated recognition

WITH Wednesday’s announcement by three European states that they intend to recognise Palestine as a state later...
App for GBV survivors
24 May, 2024

App for GBV survivors

GENDER-based violence is caught between two worlds: one sees it as a crime, the other as ‘convention’. The ...
Energy inflation
Updated 23 May, 2024

Energy inflation

The widening gap between the haves and have-nots is already tearing apart Pakistan’s social fabric.
Culture of violence
23 May, 2024

Culture of violence

WHILE political differences are part of the democratic process, there can be no justification for such disagreements...
Flooding threats
23 May, 2024

Flooding threats

WITH temperatures in GB and KP forecasted to be four to six degrees higher than normal this week, the threat of...