No EIC for Rice Exports for Remaining European Countries (Non-EU, Non ECTA) for Six Months

· Policy Relaxed within Five Months of Restrictions

· Rice exports to certain European countries exempted from mandatory inspection certificate for 6 months

India on Monday (29.05.2023) deferred the mandatory requirement of a certificate of inspection by export inspection agencies for shipping both basmati and non-basmati rice to certain European countries by six months. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said that it is amending a notification dated August 17, 2022, to the extent that export of rice (basmati and non-basmati) to EU member states and other European countries namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and UK "only" will require certificate of inspection from Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency.

"Export to remaining European countries will not require a certificate of inspection by the Export Inspection Council/Export Inspection Agency for export from the date of this notification for a period of six months," the DGFT said.

It was earlier stated by the directorate to make the certificate must for export to these countries from January this year.

EIC is the official export certification body of India which ensures quality and safety of products exported from India.

[DGFT Notification No. 09/2023 dated 29 May, 2023]

Effect of notification: Existing notification No. 27/2015-2020 dated 17th August 2022 is amended to the extent that export of Rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati) to EU member states and other European Countries namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and United Kingdom only will require Certificate of Inspection from EIA/EIC. Export to remaining European countries will not require Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency for export from the date of this notification for a period of six months.

Subject: Amendment in Policy condition of SI.No. 55 & 57, Chapter 10 Schedule-2, ITC(HS) Export Policy, 2018.

S.O. (E) In exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 of the foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended read with para 1.02 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2023, the Central Government hereby makes the following amendment to the Notification No. 27/2015-2020 dt. 17.08.2022, with immediate effect policy condition at SI.No. 55 and 57, Schedule 2 of lTC (HS) Export Policy, 2018 for export of rice (Basmati and Non-Basmati).

2. The following policy conditions shall be amended/added to the existing entries of Chapter 10 at Sl. No. 55 and 57:-

SI.No.

Tariff item HS code

Item Description

Present Policy Condition

Revised Policy Condition

1006 20 00
1006 30
1006 30 10 1006 30 90 1006 40 00

Non-Basmati Rice

• Export to EU Member States and European countries namely United Kingdom, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland permitted subject to issuance of Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council / Export Inspection Agency'.

• Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/ Export Inspections Agency shall be mandatory for export to remaining European countries with effect from 1st January, 2023.

• Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council Export Inspections Agency shall not be mandatory for export to remaining European countries with effect from the date of this notification for a period of six months.

1006 30 20

Basmati Rice Dehusked (Brown), semi-milled, milled both in either par-boiled or raw condition.

• Certificate of Inspection by Export Inspection Council/ Export Inspections Agency shall be mandatory for export to remaining European countries with effect from 1st January, 2023.

(Issued from F. No. 0 l/91/171/35/AM20/EC/e-18655)