ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has decided to give a befitting reply to India’s claim of Geographical Indication (GI) tag to basmati rice by filing its opposition in the European Union.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood today, according to a press statement.
The meeting was attended by the commerce secretary, Intellectual Property Organization (IPO-Pakistan) chairman, representatives of Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) and members of the legal fraternity.
Dawood categorically stated that Pakistan would vehemently oppose India’s application in the European Union and restrain India from obtaining an exclusive GI tag for Basmati rice.
He further supported the concerns of REAP and relevant stakeholders and ensured that their claim for Basmati rice as GI would be protected.
During the meeting, REAP representatives were of the view that Pakistan was a major grower and producer of Basmati rice and that India’s claim for exclusivity was “completely unjustified”.
It is worth mentioning here that India had submitted an application in the European Union claiming sole ownership of Basmati rice, falsely misrepresenting its exclusivity.
