(a) whether the European Union (EU) has set new quality norms for import of basmati rice from India and has fixed a deadline of 31st December, 2017 for its compliance;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with its impact on Indian Basmati Exports;
(c) the time by which Indian exports are likely to become compliant to new norms; and
(d) the steps being taken to ensure compliance and seek extension from EU?
THE MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
(SHRI SURESH PRABHU)
a) to d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 331 FOR ANSWER ON 19th MARCH,2018 REGARDING “NEW BASMATI IMPORT NORMS”.
(a to c): Tricyclazole (TCA) is a fungicide, which is used by the Indian farmers to control neck blast disease in rice. The European Union (EU) has decided to reduce the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for TCA in rice to 0.01 mg/kg, as notified vide Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/983 of 9th June, 2017. New MRL applies to Basmati rice from 30 December, 2017. For the other varieties of rice, the new MRL has become applicable with effect from 30th June 2017. Subsequent to December 2017, export of Basmati rice from India to EU is required to comply with the new MRL of TCA.
(d): The following steps are being taken to ensure compliance and seek extension from the EU:
(i) Exporters of basmati rice from India are required to undertake pre-shipment testing for pesticide residues before registration of contract with APEDA for export of Basmati rice to EU and obtain Registration-cum-allocation certificate (RCAC).
(ii) In order to ensure compliance to new MRL of TCA at 0.01 mg/kg, Basmati growing states have been requested to issue advisory to farmers during Kharif, 2017 for judicious use of pesticides. About 25 awareness programmes were organised by the Agricultural 7 processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) and All India Rice Exporters Association (AIREA) to sensitize Basmati growers in following proper advice of State Agriculture Universities and ICAR institutions while using TCA and /or other pesticides so that excessive residues are not present in the produce. Such campaign is proposed to be continued during Kharif, 2018.
(iii) In February, 2017, Dow Agro Sciences (DAS), the manufactures of TCA, have submitted a petition for seeking import tolerance for TCA in brown rice at 0.4 mg/kg. Italy is Rapporteur Member State in this case.
(iv) The Embassies of India at Brussels and Rome are pursuing the matter with authorities in Italy for completing the evaluation early and submit their report to European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for further processing and notification of import tolerance.
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