ISLAMABAD, November 15, 2025 — Pakistan has scored a major legal victory after the New Zealand High Court dismissed India’s appeal seeking exclusive certification rights for basmati rice, reaffirming that the aromatic grain is grown in both Pakistan and India.
The ruling upholds the Intellectual Property Office of New Zealand’s 2024 decision, which recognized that granting exclusive rights to India would unfairly disadvantage Pakistani producers and restrict their access to New Zealand’s market. India’s Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) had applied for exclusive certification in 2019.
The High Court noted that consumers perceive basmati as a type of rice rather than a product tied to a single country, and therefore the exclusive certification claim could not be granted.
Rafique Suleman, former chairman of the Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan, welcomed the decision, calling it a “significant win for Pakistan.” He added that the ruling not only reinforces Pakistan’s legitimacy as a basmati producer but also strengthens its position in trademark disputes in other international markets.
The verdict is expected to bolster Pakistan’s basmati exports and provide legal precedence in defending its geographical indication rights globally.
