Pakistan has won a significant legal battle in Australia after the Federal Court dismissed an appeal by India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), clearing the way for Pakistani exporters to continue marketing their rice under the Basmati name.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the Australian court upheld an earlier decision refusing APEDA’s application to register “Basmati” as a certification trademark. The court also ordered the Indian authority to bear the legal costs of the opposing party.

The dispute dates back to December 22, 2022, when the Australian Registrar of Trade Marks rejected APEDA’s trademark application. With the appeal now dismissed, Pakistani exporters remain entitled to use the Basmati name for rice originating from Pakistan in the Australian market.

The Ministry of Commerce said the ruling reaffirms Australia’s recognition that Basmati rice is cultivated in Pakistan, preserving the rights of Pakistani producers and exporters to market their products under the globally recognized name.

The ministry added that the judgment reinforces Pakistan’s longstanding position that Basmati is a geographical product associated with a historic region spanning parts of both Pakistan and India, rather than belonging exclusively to a single country or institution.

Officials described the ruling as a major boost for Pakistan’s Basmati industry, protecting the commercial interests of farmers, rice millers, and exporters while strengthening the country’s intellectual property rights in an important export market.

The Ministry of Commerce said Pakistan will continue pursuing legal and diplomatic efforts to safeguard the Basmati name in international markets, citing its historical heritage, reputation, and unique characteristics. Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan welcomed the verdict and commended the ministry’s legal team, relevant government departments, and other stakeholders for successfully defending Pakistan’s interests.