Wheat Flour (Atta) and similar Products like Maida Export under Informal Licence from 12 July

· No Transition for Past Commitments under Para 1.05 of FTP, only goods handed over to Customs and Registered in System in 6-12 July period covered

· Atta is not defined, in trade parlance. Atta and Maida are different items but whether Maida included in Atta ban not clear

· Wheat waiting for export was being converted to Atta to escape ban, now this route is closed subject to IMC decisions, case by case approach returns?

After banning wheat exports in May, the government has decided to put in place a new approval framework for outbound shipments of wheat flour.

Exporters of wheat flour would now need approval of the inter-ministerial committee for shipments of atta. The new requirement will be applicable from July 12.

"Export policy of wheat flour (atta) remains free but export shall be subject to recommendation of inter-ministerial committee on export of wheat," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

According to the notification, the necessary modalities with regard to quality of wheat flour will be notified separately.

[DGFT Notification No. 18 /2015-2020 dated 6 July 2022]

Effect of this Notification: Export Policy of wheat flour (atta) remains ‘Free’, but export shall be subject to recommendation of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on export of wheat. The Notification will come into effect from 12th of July, 2022. The provisions as under Para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 regarding transitional arrangement shall not be applicable under this Notification. Necessary modalities with regard to quality of wheat flour will be notified separately.

Subject: - Amendment in Export Policy of Wheat Flour (atta).

S.O. (E) Whereas global supply disruptions in wheat and wheat flour have created many new players and has led to price fluctuations and potential quality related issues. Therefore, it is imperative to maintain the quality of wheat flour exports from India.

Therefore, the Central Government, in exercise of powers conferred by Section 3 read with section 5 of the Foreign Trade (Development & Regulation) Act, 1992 (No. 22 of 1992), as amended, read with Para 1.02 and 2.01 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-20, the Central Government hereby amends the Export Policy of wheat flour (atta) under S.No.64 against ITC (HS) code 1101 of Chapter 11 of Schedule 2 of the ITC (HS) Export Policy, as under:

S.No.	ITC HS Codes	Description	Export Policy	Revised Export Policy
64	1101	Wheat Flour (Atta), Maida, Samolina (Rava / Sirgi), Wholemeal atta and resultant atta	Free	Free. However, export of wheat flour (atta) is subject to recommendation of Inter- Ministerial Committee (IMC) on export of wheat.

2. The Notification will come into effect from 12th of July, 2022. The provisions as under Para 1.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy, 2015-2020 regarding transitional arrangement shall not be applicable under this Notification. During the period from 6th July, 2022 till 12th July, 2022 the following consignments of wheat flour will be allowed to be exported:

i. where loading of wheat flour on the ship has commenced before this Notification; and

ii. where wheat flour consignment has been handed over to the Customs before this Notification and is registered in their system.

(Issued from File No. 01/91/180/032/AM22/EC/Pt,/E- 31336)