The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) on August 27, 2023, issued a Press Release regarding the Introduction of additional safeguards for the export of Basmati rice to prevent exports of Non-Basmati white rice through misclassification as Basmati rice.
The following instructions have been issued to introduce additional safeguards to prevent the possible illegal exports of white non-basmati rice in the garb of Basmati rice namely: -
• It states that the Contracts for Basmati exports with a value of USD 1200 per MT only and above should be registered for the issue of Registration – cum – Allocation Certificate (RCAC)
• It states that the Contracts with a value of below USD 1200 per MT may be kept in abeyance and may be evaluated by a committee to be set up by the Chairman, APEDA, for understanding the variation in prices and use of this route for the export of non-Basmati white rice. It has been noted that there has been a large variation in the contract price of Basmati being exported with the lowest contract price being USD 359 Per MT in the backdrop of an average export price of USD 1214 per MT during the current month. The Committee should submit its report within a period of one month, whereafter a decision on lower price exports of Basmati planned by the industry can be taken appropriately.
• It further states that the APEDA should hold consultations with trade to sensitize them about the matter and work with them to discourage any use of this window for the export of non-basmati white rice.
[Press Release ID 1952629]
