Pakistan immediately opposed India's move to gain Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) from the European Commission. Pakistan has expanded basmati exports to the European Union over the past three years, taking advantage of India's difficulties meeting stricter European pesticide standards. "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 more organic and "better in quality." "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, told Agence France-Presse.

Source: Manila Times June 07, 2021 16:52 UTC