---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 14 Feb 1998 10:26:45 -0800 From: Sid Shniad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: Forum on Labor in the Global Economy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Patenting Basmati rice > > 12 FEBRUARY 1998 : > > > > Nidhi Nath Srinivas > > NEW DELHI 11 FEBRUARY > > A crippling blow to India, Basmati rice has been patented in the United States. > > > > The patent for calling aromatic rice grown outside India `Basmati' > > and selling it under any brand name has been obtained by the American > > company Ricetec. > > > > Ricetec has already been trying to stake a claim in the international > > Basmati market with brands like `Kasmati' and `Texmati', which claim > > to be ``basmati-type'' rice. > > > > However, Ricetec will now be able to not only call its aromatic rice > > `Basmati' within the US, but also label all its rice exports so. > > > > As a result, not only will India lose out on the 45,000-tonne US > > market, which forms 10 per cent of the total basmati exports, but > > also its premium position in vital markets like the European Union, > > Stunned by the development, the commerce ministry, the APEDA, the > > Indian Agricultural Research Institute, and the Indian Council of > > Agricultural Research, and the Basmati industry have together decided > > to immediately challenge the patent given to Ricetec by the US > > government. > > > > In a meeting held yesterday, the government has decided to ask the US > > Patent Office to revoke the patent with immediate effect because it violates > > the fundamental fact that the long grain aromatic rice grown only in Punjab, > > Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh is called Basmati. > > > > ``Patenting Basmati in the US is like snatching away our history and > > culture,'' sources said. > > > > According to sources, India's chief contention is that while Ricetec > > can sell rice virtually identical in aroma and and taste world-wide, > > it cannot use the traditional Indian name `Basmati' because it is > > employed for a very specific variety of rice grown in a specific > > geographic area. > > > > The Geographic Appellation Bill, which is meant to safeguard the > > patent rights of traditional Indian commodities like basmati, has yet > > to see the light of day. > > > > ``Had the government enacted the Geographic Appellation Bill, India > > would have been able to claim reciprocal protection in WTO countries > > under the TRIPS agreement.'' > > > > ``Since we have been lax in protecting our rights, countries like the > > US can stake a claim,'' sources said. > > > > In its patent application Ricetec also acknowledges that ``good > > quality Basmati rice traditionally come from northern India and > > Pakistan...Indeed in some countries the term can be applied to only > > the Basmati rice grown in India and Pakistan.'' > > > > According to Ricetec, the ``limited success'' in growing Basmati in > > other parts of the world ``supports the belief in consumer, trade and > > scientific circles that authentic Basmati rice can only be obtained > > from the northern regions of India and Pakistan due to the unique and > > complex combination of environment, soil, climate, sowing practices > > and the genetics of the Basmati varieties.'' > > > > However, the company now claims to have invented certain ``novel'' > > Basmati lines and grains ``which make possible the production of high > > quality, higher yielding Basmati rice worldwide.'' > > > > ``(The invention) is based, among other things, on the surprising > > discovery that certain Basmati plant and grain characteristics and > > aspects of the growing environment for traditional Basmati rice lines > > are not critical to perceived Basmati product quality'' by consumers, > > Ricetec has stated. > > > > //www.economictimes.com/dmd/htmls/aboutus.htm"> > > Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.</a> 1997. > > Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. > > To access reprinting rights, please contact > > <a href="http://www.timesofindia.com/htmls/tss.htm"> > > Times Syndication Service</a>.<p> > >
