No changes in rules for sugar shipment: KV Thomas

NEW DELHI: Putting speculation of modifications in sugar exports rules to rest, food minister K V Thomas said that the sugar exports will continue as per the prevailing quota system. “There will be no change in the rules for sugar shipment.

The present system will be applicable for exporting the export the third tranche of 1 million tonne as well,” he said. The empowered group of ministers on food, in its recently held meeting, had asked the food ministry to lax norms and procedures to expedite sugar exports, which have been lagging behind due to procedural delays.

Sugar is exported under quota system in which the government allocates export quota to every mills based on its sugar production during last three years. “The ministry was considering anew system based on ‘first come first serve’.

But due to some reasons, we are not changing the rules,” said a food ministry official. The government so far has allowed exports of 3 million tonnes in this sugar season in three tranches of 1 million tonne each.