India’s bid for Basmati GI tag in New Zealand and Kenya rejected

10-Nov-2025 01:02 PM

New Delhi. Although the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a subordinate body of the Union Ministry of Commerce, submitted applications with facts and figures to obtain sole marketing rights and Geographical Indication (GI) status (tag) for Indian Basmati rice in New Zealand and Kenya, after a lengthy debate,

APEDA's applications were ultimately rejected in both countries. This dealt a severe blow to APEDA's efforts to establish itself as the sole registered exporter of Basmati rice.

The New Zealand High Court dismissed APEDA's appeal seeking the grant of a certification trademark or certification mark for Indian Basmati rice. On October 30, 2025, the High Court ruled in rejecting APEDA's application, which has now been made public.

It is noteworthy that APEDA applied for a certification mark from the Intellectual Property Authority of New Zealand in February 2019.

Now, five years later, the Assistant Commissioner of Trademarks has rejected the application, stating that the New Zealand Trademarks Act 2002 does not permit the registration of the word "Basmati." Canada's efforts have similarly suffered a setback in Kenya.

Last month, an appellate court dismissed APEDA's application (petition) challenging a Kenyan High Court decision.

After the High Court rejected APEDA's application, it approached the appellate court, but was unsuccessful there.

The High Court also granted trademark registration to a Kenyan company for Basmati rice. This company had applied for registration in 2009, and APEDA subsequently challenged the decision.