Govt to control sugar exports from Jan

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday decided to control sugar exports from next year through a release order mechanism, under which millers and traders need to seek permission from the food ministry for exporting the sweetener. ���Sugar exports under the open general licence (OGL) would be regulated through the system of release orders with effect from January 1, 2009,��� the food ministry said in a statement.

However, it has decided to continue with the dispensation in respect of exports under the advance authorisation scheme, it added.

Meanwhile, the government has released 5 million tonnes of non-levy sugar for Jan-March quarter, up 13.6% from 4.4 million tonnes released in the same period a year ago, a government statement said on Monday.

The government has allocated non-levy sugar of 1.5 million tonnes each for January and February and 1.6 million tonnes for March.