Pakistan’s rice exporters have secured a major legal victory in Australia after the Federal Court of Australia rejected an appeal by India in a case concerning the use of the word “Basmati”.

The Australian Federal Court dismissed the appeal filed by India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the Basmati trademark case.

The APEDA sought exclusive right to use the word Basmati.

The court also ordered APEDA to pay the respondent the legal costs.

The decision vindicates Pakistan’s principled and consistently maintained position regarding Basmati as a geographical indication.

The Ministry of Commerce welcomed the Australian court’s decision, describing it as an important affirmation of Pakistan’s longstanding position on Basmati rice.

The ministry said the ruling would help protect the commercial and intellectual property rights of Pakistani Basmati rice growers and exporters.

The decision is being viewed as a significant development in the long-running dispute between Pakistan and India over the use and recognition of the Basmati name in international markets.