SYDNEY: Pakistan has successfully thwarted India’s attempt to secure a monopoly over the Basmati brand name.
The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed an appeal filed by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) of India, ordering the Indian body to pay the opposing party’s legal costs.
According to the Ministry of Commerce, the Australian court’s ruling validates Pakistan’s principled stance.
APEDA had applied to register “Basmati” as a trademark, which the Australian Registrar of Trade Marks initially rejected in 2022.
Australian authorities have already acknowledged that Basmati rice is also produced in Pakistan, allowing Pakistani traders and exporters to use the name.
This decision reinforces Pakistan’s historical and geographical rights over Basmati.
The Ministry of Commerce noted that the historically recognized region of Basmati production spans areas in both Pakistan and India, meaning no single country or institution can claim exclusive monopoly rights over the name.
The court ruling is a major victory for Pakistani Basmati farmers, millers, and exporters.
Ultimately, the decision protects the intellectual property and commercial rights of Pakistani Basmati, ensuring that local exporters retain the full right to market authentic Pakistani Basmati in Australia.
