India has asked Pakistan to expedite the process of filing joint applications for the registration of Geographical Indication of Basmati rice.
Last week, Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath wrote to the Pakistan government seeking sought information on the locations to register the GI application and its management aspects, from Pakistan.
The letter said India has already chosen the members of the joint taskforce, while Pakistan has not taken any initiatives on the front.
Kamal Nath asked Pakistan to learn about the registration process since unlike India, Pakistan has not enacted legislation on GI.
Globally, GI is given to products with a reputation attributable to its place of origin or the area where it is manufactured. GI is highlighted during the marketing of the product to fetch a higher value.
GI is provided to products with a reputation attributable to its place of origin or the area of its manufacture. GI is highlighted during the marketing of the product to fetch a higher value.
Indian officials said Pakistan is delaying the process since the country has lost to India in the Basmati rice segment in the European market.
While India's Basmati rice exports to Europe rose to 2.20 lakh tonnes in September 2005-August 2006 from 1.82 lakh tonnes in September 2002-August 2003, Pakistan's exports plummeted to just 53,000 tonnes from 95,000 tonnes during the same period. The reason being, according to officials, unlike Pakistan, India's exports are free from aflatoxin problems.
Officials in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that India has been fighting with other countries over exclusive rights on Basmati. India and Pakistan are the largest Basmati producing countries.
"If India and Pakistan act together, there will not be dilution of Basmati GI," the official said.
Basmati rice is primarily cultivated in India and Pakistan. The Himalayan foothills are said to produce the best basmati. The Super Basmati, a premium variety from Pakistan and Dehra Dun from India, are the