The Basmati rice war between India and Pakistan

Sidra Islam; Shazia  Rehman; Mamoona Munir

doi:10.69971/tipr.2.1.2024.21

Authors

Sidra Islam Department of Botany, Government Graduate College for Women Gulberg, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Shazia Rehman Sanya Nanfan Research Institution, College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Sanya 572025, China
Mamoona Munir Department of Botany, Rawalpindi Women University, Satellite Town Rawalpindi, 44000, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69971/tipr.2.1.2024.21

Keywords:

basmati rice, European union, GI act, transborder GIs, New Zealand Basmati , Australia Basmati, Pakistan Basmati

Abstract

The current study highlights the challenges for GI protection of trans-border products, in Basmati rice. Various international treaties, e.g., Lisbon Agreement, Paris convention, and TRIPS Agreement describe partly the protection of geographical indications (GIs) or appellations of origin. Both India and Pakistan are TRIPS member countries and claim Basmati rice as their GI and have tagged Basmati as GI in their respective territories. Europe is an expanding market for Basmati, and EU is implementing import regulations on food products based on GI reputation for high quality products. India has sought GI protection of Basmati rice in EU followed by staunch opposition by Pakistan. Current study will briefly highlight the recent developments of this GI dispute on Basmati rice between India and Pakistan in EU,New Zealand and Australia.

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