DGFT notifies Prohibition of Export of Non-basmati rice [Read Notification]

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) vide notification no. S.O. 3249(E) issued on 20th July 2023 has notified the prohibition of export of non-basmati white rice (Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed: Other)

The Central Government, invoking the authority vested by Section 3 in conjunction with section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992, as amended, and in accordance with Para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, hereby introduces modifications to the Export Policy of Non-basmati rice categorized under ITC (HS) code 1006 30 90 of Chapter 10 of Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy, as outlined below:

The Notification will take immediate effect. The transitional arrangement specified in Para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, will not apply to this Notification concerning the export of Non-basmati rice. Consignments of Non-basmati rice will be permitted for export under the following conditions:

1. where loading of Non-basmati rice on the ship has commenced before this Notification;
2. where the shipping bill is filed and vessels have already berthed or arrived and anchored in Indian ports and their rotation number has been allocated before this Notification; The approval of loading in such vessels will be issued only after confirmation by the concerned Port Authorities regarding anchoring/berthing of the ship for loading of Non-basmati rice prior to the Notification;
3. where Non-basmati rice consignment has been handed over to the Customs before this Notification and is registered in their system/where Non-basmati rice consignment has entered the Customs Station for exportation before this Notification and is registered in the electronic systems of the concerned Custodian of the Customs Station with verifiable evidence of date and time stamping of these commodities having entered the Customs Station prior to 20.07.2023. The period of export shall be upto 31.08.2023.
4. Export will be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the Government of India to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their Government.

It was also mentioned that “Export of Organic Non-basmati rice will be governed in accordance with Notification No.03/2015-2020 dated 19th April, 2017 read with Notification No.45/2015-2020 dated 29th November, 2022.”

The notification brings about a change in the export policy of non-basmati white rice (Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed: Other) under HS code 1006 30 90, switching it from a ‘Free’ policy to a ‘Prohibited’ policy.

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