The government has decided to give a 45 days extension period to rice traders exporting broken rice of the parboiled and raw variety. This extension, traders said, would help in fulfilling delivery commitments for orders taken before the Centre stopped exports.
To prevent diversion of non-basmati rice for export purposes to the domestic market, the government had on August 16 stopped the export of broken rice beyond the admissible allowance of two per cent as against the earlier permit of 16 and 25 per cent for parboiled and raw rice respectively.
This decision was taken in accordance with the recommendation of the high level committee. The government has decided to give an extension because it had given a written assurance to exporters that any changes made in the export policy would be notified to traders 45 days in advance. Therefore the extension period will be from August 16 to October 4. A notification to this effect will be issued soon.
Traders said apart from helping exports fulfil old commitments, the move would also help negotiate new export orders.
