TO PREVENT confusion between Thailand's jasmine rice and Ricetech Inc's Jasmati rice among consumers in the United States, the Agriculture Ministry will seek a ''certification mark'' for the Thai fragrant rice, a senior official said on Friday.

Agriculture Department Director General Ananta Dalodom told a press conference that the department would ask the Washington-based Commercial and Agriculture Office to seek a certification mark from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US-PTO).

''The certification mark would result in North American consumers being made aware that Jasmati rice is not Thai jasmine rice. So, the real jasmine rice must be officially certified,'' he said.

''The cost of registration of the certification mark is just US$1,000-$2,000.''

However, Chakkrit Khuanphote, an intellectual property expert, said the certification mark was just like a Shell chuan chim certificate (a gourmet certificate issued by the oil company) in Thailand.

''It is good idea to a certain degree even though it would not have much of an effect on Jasmati Rice -- the trademark of Ricetech Inc,'' he said.

A better way to protect jasmine rice, Chakkrit said, is for the ministry to take legal action to pressure the US-PTO to withdraw the Jasmati rice trademark because it has affected the image of Thai rice.

''Any agencies could sue over this -- representatives from the Agriculture and Commerce ministries, jasmine rice exporters or even farmers,'' he said.

But Ananta disagreed with Chakkrit's proposal, saying a court trial would take a long time and involve a great deal of expense.

''It would require between $20,000 and $25,000 and would take up to three months. US regulations state that such a case has to be filed within five years of the product being patented and the Jasmati rice patent will hit the five- year mark on Nov 30, 1998,'' he said.

Ananta revealed that his officials were inspecting the DNA finger print of Jasmati rice and the results would be completed by next week.

''We are checking the DNA finger print even though we have been assured by our officials overseas that Jasmati rice has nothing to do with our jasmine rice,'' he said.

BY PENNAPA HONGTHONG