DGFT amends Export Policy of Non-Basmati White Rice

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) vide Trade Notice no. 23/2023 issued on 18th August 2023 has notified the amendment of export policy of non-basmati white rice.

The Export Policy for Non-basmati white rice (Semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether polished or glazed: Other) categorised under HS code 1006 30 90 has been changed from ‘Free’ to ‘Prohibited’ as per Notification No. 20/2023 dated 20.07.2023.

The provisions outlined in Paragraph 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, concerning transitional arrangements, were not extended. Nonetheless, shipments of Non-basmati rice were permitted for export under the subsequent 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/custodian before this Notification and is registered in their systems/ 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 up to 31.08.2023.

The Directorate has received multiple representations from stakeholders, including Customs Authorities, requesting clarification regarding the interpretation of conditions (i), (ii), and (iii) in Paragraph 2 of the Notification dated 20.07.2023. Specifically, there was a query about whether these three conditions are standalone or if exporters must fulfil all of them simultaneously. This matter has been addressed and clarified.

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