by furqanISLAMABAD — Pakistan has welcomed a landmark ruling by the Federal Court of Australia, which dismissed an appeal by India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) seeking exclusive trademark rights over the name “Basmati.”
The court also ordered APEDA to pay the legal costs of the respondent, marking a significant victory for Pakistani exporters.
Key Highlights
- Shared Geographical Indication: The Ministry of Commerce affirmed that the judgment supports Pakistan’s stance that Basmati is a Geographical Indication (GI) tied to a historically recognized region spanning parts of both Pakistan and India.
- Upholding Previous Rulings: APEDA had originally applied to register “Basmati” as a certification trademark in Australia, but the application was rejected on December 22, 2022. The Federal Court’s dismissal upholds that original finding.
- Legitimate Right to Trade: The decision confirms that Pakistani traders have an equal and legitimate right to market authentic Basmati rice internationally.
- Protection Against Monopolization: The Ministry emphasized that no single national authority should exercise exclusive control over a regional heritage product to the exclusion of other legitimate producers.