Lok Sabha Question No. 331 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-19
Subject: New Basmati Import Norms
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: BHOLA SINGH, PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 331 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 th  MARCH,2018

## NEW BASMATI IMPORT NORMS

## *331.  SHRI BHOLA SINGH:

PROF. PREM SINGH CHANDUMAJRA:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वािणÏय एवं उɮयोग मंत्री ) be pleased to state:

- (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?

## ANSWER

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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 19 th  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 9 th 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 30 th 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  preshipment testing for pesticide residues before registration of contract with APEDA for export of Basmati rice to EU and obtain Registrationcum-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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