Both India and Pakistan shared the Basmati rice-growing zone before partition in 1947. After partition, Basmati rice became a joint heritage of India and Pakistan. Pakistan recently has received the Geographical Indicator (GI) tag for its Basmati, paving the way for creating a local registry for the particular strain of rice and making a case in the international market, as the country fights a case in the EU against India's move to get Basmati rice registered as its product.
A GI is a sign used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or reputations that are essentially due to that origin.
In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin.
The tag can be awarded for agricultural products, foodstuffs, wine, handicrafts, and industrial products.
A GI tag is a part of the intellectual property rights that comes under the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
Once a product is accorded a GI tag, it is protected by various legislations, such as legislations by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
India’s Basmati Zone: The areas of Basmati Rice production in India are in the states of J & K, Himanchal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, uttarakhand and western Uttar Pradesh. India is the leading exporter of the Basmati Rice to the global market.
Pakistan’s Basmati Zone: The main growing areas of Basmati are Districts Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Narowal, Hafizabad, Nankana Sahib, Chiniot, Gujrat, Mandi Bahaudin and Kasur.
Despite India being the biggest producer of Basmati rice in the world, it is Pakistan that has applied for the Geographical Indications (GI) tag. Traditionally, this rice has been grown in India and Pakistan.
The Geographical Indications (GI) tag was created to indicate that an item originates from a particular place. Today, many countries around the world have begun putting up these tags to differentiate their products from others.
Pakistan has been also exporting Basmati rice to European countries, along with India. It is only after enacting the act that a country can claim for GI tag. Pakistan has just enacted the GI Act and is now following India’s path. Whereas, India enacted the GI Act in 2001.
India also applied for an exclusive GI tag to Indian-origin basmati rice. The application was published in the EU journal in 2020.
The geographical identity of Basmati is attached to the Indo-Gangetic Plains. Madhya Pradesh, which is outside this belt, also asked to be included in the GI tag for Basmati. It is only after the inclusion of MP that Pakistan pushed its case for Basmati and received it.
It is not a cause of concern for India. India never contested Pakistan’s claim of GI tag for Basmati rice. It filed its own application just to ensure that Pakistan could not object to its claim in the future.
Initially, both countries were inclined to file for GI tag together, however, this move could not be successful, due to the following reasons that are - Pakistan had no nodal authority with which the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority [APEDA] of India could have dealt and the plan was interrupted by political issues also.
Pakistan produces Basmati only in its 14 districts in comparison to the 7 States of India. The output of India is very large in comparison to Pakistan, and it won’t be affected by the GI tag.