GoM to decide on rice export ban, spice exporters cautious of quality

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal Wednesday said a Group of Ministers will take a call on lifting the ban on certain varieties of non-basmati rice after considering the demand-supply and price situation.

India has banned exports of non-basmati white rice since July 20, 2023 to boost domestic supply.

“These decisions are taken by a Group of Ministers. We meet periodically, assess the production of agri produce, the consumption patterns, price in the retail and wholesale market, and we take a balanced decision,” he said on the sidelines of a Ficci event.


On spice exports, he said that Indian exporters are conscious about quality standards and the problem of some spices consignments were “very very” miniscule and need not be exaggerated.

Certain MDH and Everest spice exports were rejected by Singapore and Hong Kong for allegedly containing carcinogenic pesticide ethylene oxide beyond permissible limits.

Goyal said that the consignments that had some problem were miniscule compared to the country’s $56 billion worth of food and related product exports.

“They were company-specific issues which are being addressed between FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) and the concerned authorities,” Goyal said, adding that even the consignments originating from developed countries are rejected on quality issues.