New Delhi (PTI): The government on Thursday decided to empower the Agriculture Export Promotion Agency to protect India's farm and horticulture products like Basmati rice from anyone patenting them anywhere in the world.

Cabinet has approved an amendment in the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act (APEDA), which would enable the agency to register these products for protection using the mechanism of the Geographical Indications (GIs).

"APEDA will get power to register products under the GI and protect their IPR," Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters here after the Cabinet meeting.

Currently, Basmati rice has been listed as Special Product for protection against Intellectual Property Rights, but more items can be added to the list, Chidambaram said.

After the amendment is passed by Parliament, APEDA would be able to fight cases abroad whenever any violation takes place. "If Basmati is registered by India under GI, it cannot be grown in other parts of the world," a trade expert said.