From biryani to pilau, Pakistan and India’s shared culinary panorama is outlined by basmati, a particular long-grain rice now on the centre of the most recent tussle between the bitter rivals.
India has utilized for an unique trademark that may grant it sole possession of the basmati title within the European Union, setting off a dispute that might deal a serious blow to Pakistan’s place in a significant export market.
“It’s like dropping an atomic bomb on us,” said Ghulam Murtaza, co-owner of Al-Barkat Rice Mills just south of Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city.
Pakistan immediately opposed India’s move to gain Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from the European Commission.
India is the largest rice exporter in the world, netting $6.8 billion in annual earnings, with Pakistan in fourth position at $2.2 billion, according to UN figures.
The two countries are the only global exporters of basmati.
“(India) has caused all this fuss over there so they can somehow grab one of our target markets,” mentioned Murtaza, whose fields are barely 5 kilometres (three miles) from the Indian border. “Our entire rice trade is affected,” he added.
From Karachi to Kolkata, basmati is a staple in everyday diets across southern Asia.
It is eaten alongside spicy meat and vegetable curries, and is the star of the endlessly varied biryani dishes featured at weddings and celebrations across both countries, which only split following independence from British colonial rule in 1947.
They have since fought three wars, with the latest skirmish in 2019 involving the first cross-border airstrikes in nearly 50 years.
Diplomatic relations have been tense for decades and both countries routinely attempt to malign each other on the international stage.
‘Very important market’
Pakistan has expanded basmati exports to the EU over the past three years, taking advantage of India’s difficulties meeting stricter European pesticide standards.
It now fills two-thirds of the region’s approximately 300,000-ton annual demand, according to the European Commission.
“For us, this is a very, very important market,” says Malik Faisal Jahangir, vice-president of the Pakistan Rice Exporters Association, who claims Pakistani basmati is extra natural and “higher in high quality”.
PGI status grants intellectual property rights for products linked to a geographic area where at least one stage of production, processing, or preparation takes place.
Indian Darjeeling tea, coffee from Colombia and several French hams are among the popular products with PGI status.
It differs from Protected Designation of Origin, which requires all three stages to take place in the concerned region, as in the case of cheeses such as French brie or Italian gorgonzola.
Such products are legally guarded against imitation and misuse in countries bound by the protection agreement and a quality recognition stamp allows them to sell for higher prices.
India says it did not claim in its application to be the only producer of the distinctive rice grown in the Himalayan foothills, but attaining PGI status would nevertheless grant it this recognition.
“India and Pakistan have been exporting and competing in a healthy way in different markets for almost 40 years… I don’t think the PGI will change that,” Vijay Setia, former president of the Indian Rice Exporters Association, instructed AFP.
A joint heritage
As per EU guidelines, the 2 international locations should attempt to negotiate an amicable decision by September, after India requested for a three-month extension, a spokesman for the European Commission instructed AFP.
“Historically, each the repute and geographic space (for basmati) are widespread to India and Pakistan,” says legal researcher Delphine Marie-Vivien.
“There have already been quite a few cases of opposition to geographical indication applications in Europe, and each time a compromise has been found.”
After years of procrastination, the Pakistani authorities in January demarcated the place basmati may be harvested within the nation.
It additionally introduced it will assign related protected standing to pink Himalayan salt and different vaunted agricultural merchandise.
Pakistan hopes to persuade India to as a substitute submit a “joint software” in the name of the common heritage that basmati represents, Jahangir said.
“I am confident that we will reach a (positive) conclusion very soon… the world knows that basmati comes from both countries,” he added.
If an settlement can’t be reached and the EU guidelines in India’s favour, Pakistan might enchantment to the European courts, however the lengthy evaluation course of might depart its rice trade in limbo.
Read all of the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News right here
