India Denies Pakistan's Claims of Basmati Ownership Recognition in New Zealand, Australia

New Delhi: India has strongly refuted Pakistan’s claims that New Zealand and Australia have recognized basmati rice as a Pakistani product. Indian officials clarified that while India holds a logo mark registration for basmati rice in New Zealand, Pakistan does not have any such registrations in either New Zealand or Australia.

According to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), Pakistan has not secured any official recognition for basmati rice in these countries. “Reports suggesting that Pakistan has won the basmati rice ownership battle against India are incorrect,” an official stated.

APEDA, which is responsible for protecting and securing India's basmati rice name and logo certification, confirmed that its trademark applications in both New Zealand and Australia are still under review by the respective tribunals. So far, no registrations have been granted to Pakistan in either of these markets.

Basmati Rice’s Indian Origin: Historical and Geographical Justification

Basmati rice has a documented history of cultivation in India dating back to at least the 18th century, long before Pakistan’s creation in 1947. Historical records, including British colonial-era agricultural reports, indicate that basmati was grown in the northern Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.