a) whether some countries have imposed a ban on the import of rice and wheat produced in India during the last five years;
b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
c) whether any of these countries have lifted the ban; and
d) if so, the details thereof and the fall in the demand of rice and wheat exports during the said period?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
(a & b)All importing countries of agro and food products have concerns relating to human, animal and plant health and hygiene and safety of food consumed by its citizens. As a measure of protection, importing countries often resort to rejections of individual consignments or temporary restrictions on imports of specific commodities for non-compliance with their prescribed norms/safety standards/rules/regulations. Normally, bans are resorted to only when there are repeated violations of the safety norms or there are serious concerns to the health of humans, animals or plants. At present, there is no instance of a formal country-specific ban on import of rice and wheat from India.
(c & d) Does not arise in view of (a) above. The data on export of rice and wheat during the last 5 years and the current year is as under:
Quantity in lakh MT; Value in USD Millions
Product Name 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15
Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value Quantity Value
Basmati Rice 23.30 2493.89 31.69 3216.99 34.60 3564.04 37.54 4864.89 36.99 4516.28
Non-Basmati Rice 1.01 50.86 39.92 1723.38 66.88 2651.97 71.36 2925.16 82.78 3336.84
Wheat 0.00 0.15 7.50 202.06 65.15 1934.24 55.72 1569.08 29.24 828.75
Source: DGCI&S
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