Pakistan, Aug. 13 -- In a key development for Pakistan's rice exports sector, India's attempt to monopolise the Basmati name failed after an Australian court rejected an appeal filed by an Indian body.

The Ministry of Commerce welcomed the decision of the Federal Court of Australia, which dismissed the appeal filed by India's Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in the Basmati word mark case, read a statement on Wednesday.

The court also ordered APEDA to pay the respondent's costs, as agreed or taxed.

"The decision vindicates Pakistan's principled and consistently maintained position regarding Basmati as a geographical indication," the Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.

APEDA had applied...