Exporters worried over APEDA's advisory on export of Basmati rice

20-Sep-2024 08:48 PM

New Delhi. An advisory issued by the Basmati Export Development Foundation of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), a subordinate body of the Union Ministry of Commerce,

has created concern and confusion among exporters, but APEDA has said that this will not have any impact on rice exports or exporters.

The industry and trade sector is surprised whether the Foundation has the right to regulate the Basmati rice industry or whether the advisory issued by it is legally valid.

On the other hand, APEDA officials have also clarified that this advisory is neither mandatory nor is it necessary to follow it.

This means that this advisory is optional. An advisory was issued by the Foundation on 12 September 2024 stating that the packets or bags should contain the same product (Basmati rice) as claimed by the exporters and no false information should be given at its level.

If the name of a particular variety of Basmati rice notified under the Seed Act 1966 is quoted at the package level, then the same rice should be present inside the bag as well. This advisory seems to be generally correct.

But traders / exporters have a problem with the part of the advisory which states that it is not mandatory to write the name of the variety or category of Basmati rice on the label but it can be kept as per the requirement of the buyer / importing countries. But no procedure has been laid down for testing the rice and checking the mixing of foreign elements in it.