India may get exclusive rights to sell Basmati in EU

According to sources familiar with the matter, India will likely walk away with the sole right to the Geographical Indication (GI) tag for Basmati rice in the European Union (EU). This statement comes in the light of the deadline for settling the issue with its rival, Pakistan expiring. If this happens, New Delhi will enjoy exclusive rights to market the fragrant rice in the EU as “Basmati” rice. It can thereby deter other countries, mainly Pakistan, from selling the foodgrain as “Basmati”.

“The current technical circumstances firmly indicate India would emerge victorious in the Basmati GI tag case at the European Commission,” commented S Chandrasekaran, a trade analyst and author of the book Basmati Rice: The Natural History Geographical Indication. What might work in India’s favour is that instead of actually filing an application for the exclusive indication tag, Pakistan has only filed its opposition to granting GI tag to India. HE pointed out that India, on the other hand, had actually filed the petition seeking GI tag for its Basmati rice on July 18, 2018.