a) whether the Government has taken note of import of rice adulterated with plastic from China to the country, particularly in Southern India;
b) if so, the facts thereof;
c) whether the Government has conducted any investigation in the matter;
d) if so, the details and the outcome thereof along with the action taken/to be taken against the persons/officials found guilty; and
e) the mechanism put in place by the Government to check import of such adulterated products into the country?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) (SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a) & (b) Import of rice is allowed only through Food Corporation of India (FCI), as per India’s Import Policy under Chapter 10 of Indian Trade Classification (Harmonised System), 2012, Schedule – I (Import Policy). Further, import of rice is subject to clearance by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). No adulteration in import consignments of rice cleared by FSSAI has been reported in any laboratory tests.
(c) & (d) On the basis of alert from International Network of Food Safety Authorities (INFOSAN), FSSAI had taken up the issue with the Governments of Kerala and Gujarat and these states have confirmed that no incidence of imported plastic rice has been reported in the respective states.
(e) To ensure against import of any adulterated food products, FSSAI has put in place a mechanism for drawing of samples from each of the food import consignments and their testing at authorised laboratories.
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