This was reiterated by KC Pant, deputy chairman, planning commission while delivering the inaugural address at a symposium on the Indian Patent Act- Challenges and Oppurtunites, organised by Chemtech foundation, with the support of Assocham and European Chamber of Commerce and Indian Federation Of Pharmaceutical Medicine Association.

Pant said that the term Basmati for rice grown elsewhere is an infrigement of geographically indicated rights of India and Pakistan where the traditional varieties of these rice are grown. Appropriate action against such patents are imperative to retain rights over country's traditional varieties, he said. India's rich bio-deversity is a great asset not only for country's growth process but also for the environment world-wide.

Regrettably, attempts have been made in the recent past,particularly in some western countries, to take away inherent property rights by granting patents on products such as rice and turmeric powder.

While India did win the case of turmeric powder and got the patent cancelled in the USa where it was granted, India had to incur cost in litigation.

Since many more such cases may come up in future, country has to take effective steps by which the inherent rights in public domain are not violated, he said.