In a move similar to the issue of a rice patent on Basmati rice in 1997, Malaysia has granted trademark rights for a popular rice variety grown in south India to a Malaysian trading firm.
Syarikat Faiza, which imports Sona Masoori Ponni rice from India, registered the variety under the Malaysian Trademark Act and sent legal notices to other importers asking them not to use the word “Ponni” to describe the product. Coming at a time of rising food prices – especially the increasing cost of rice – the move has sparked an outcry among Indian farmers and Malaysian importers.
“You cannot register the variety Ponni, it is like registering Basmati. Ponni belongs to India and it cannot be registered in Malaysia,” said Rajasekaran Thiyagarajan, a lawyer representing a Malaysian importer.
[ihc-hide-content ihc_mb_type=”show” ihc_mb_who=”3″ ihc_mb_template=”2″ ]
“If the Ponni variety is registered in this country, then it can be registered worldwide,” Rajasekaran said, adding that India should be more vigilant to such issues.
White Ponni rice, a hybrid, was developed by Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in 1986 and is cultivated on thousands of acres of land in India. Indian farmers have complained about the silence of Tamil Nadu state government and the central government on the issue and have urged them to take action.
In 1997, the issuing of a patent on Basmati rice to the US company RiceTec caused a global uproar and sparked a lengthy legal battle.
In May this year, India ordered its Agriculture Export Promotion Agency to protect indigenous farm and horticulture products from being patented abroad.
[/ihc-hide-content]
