Basmati Rice exporters have urged the centre to initiate steps to resume export to Saudi Arabia, the second largest importer of basmati, which halted Rice imports from India since June for non-compliance with its new stringent maximum level of pesticide residues in food items.
Indian authorities are set to initiate dialogue with the Gulf kingdom to seek mellowing of maximum residue level (MRL) norms that are likely to hit exports of mainly Rice, buffalo meat and few other food items.
“The matter is being taken up with Saudi Arabia as the new MRL are not based on scientific facts and are too stringent to be fulfilled,” a senior official from Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said.
Saudi Arabia’s new MRL norms are not India-specific, though. Rice export to the country has halted since June after a consignment was tested positively for not fulfilling the new criteria for residue detection. Saudi Arabia buys 7-8 lakh tonnes of Rice, primarily basmati, from India.
Exporters warn that the development will significantly shrink India’s share in the global Rice market. India is the largest exporter of basmati, shipping 4 million tonnes of basmati in 2017-18.
SOURCE : ALBILAD
