India approaches European Court over Basmati
Last Updated on December 30, 2024 7:19 am
India has approached the European Court of Justice after Pakistan requested documents from the European Union regarding the GI tag for Basmati rice.
According to Indian media reports, India wanted to see the documents that Pakistan had submitted to the European Union claiming ownership of Basmati rice.
But the European Union rejected India’s request. The European Union said that they are not obliged to provide that information according to their 1049/2001 regulations.
Providing that information could worsen relations with the European Union. They said that India’s application was rejected keeping that in mind. After that, New Delhi approached the European Court of Justice.
India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads over Basmati rice for a long time. If a product gains recognition and fame in a particular area, an application for GI (Geographical Indication) can be made for that regional product.
In that case, proof has to be provided that the product has gained fame in that particular area. The officials examine that evidence.
According to UN rules, multiple countries can apply for the same ownership with appropriate evidence. Even if another country does it first, another country can do it later.
The conflict between India and Pakistan over basmati began a few years ago. India applied for the GI tag for basmati rice. Pakistan also claimed counter-ownership of basmati.
India exports the most basmati rice to the world market, especially West Asia. However, the basmati market in Europe and Australia is dominated by Pakistan.
Europe claimed that Indian basmati contains a high amount of chemicals. Pakistani basmati is much more natural in comparison. And after that, Europe imported basmati from Pakistan.
India claimed ownership to end Pakistan’s dominance in the European market. After India, Pakistan also got the GI tag for basmati rice in 2021.
Islamabad scrambled to prove that basmati belongs to Pakistan. Pakistan had also submitted documents to the European Union to get the ‘Protected Geographical Indication (PGI)’ for Basmati rice.
On the other hand, India claims that basmati rice is mentioned in many of our ancient manuscripts, starting from the Yajurveda. Experts have also argued in favor of basmati rice being Indian. That is why India is also fighting to get the PGI label.
Meanwhile, India approached the European Union. On March 27, the lawyer of APEDA, which is in charge of the export of Indian basmati rice, applied to the European Union to see Pakistan’s documents.
On July 1, India’s application was rejected. The reason was also shown. In view of that, this time APEDA has approached the European Court of Justice to see Pakistan’s documents.
But why are India and Pakistan fighting so hard to get ‘ownership’ of basmati rice? Diplomats claim that India actually dominates the global market for basmati. If PGI gets that dominance, it will be consolidated.
And in that area, Pakistan does not want to lose the markets of Europe and Australia in any way. Islamabad also wants to capture the markets of other countries to strengthen its economy. And that is why there is so much competition.