The commerce ministry has fixed timelines for the governments of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to finalise modalities and complete the export process of Red Sanders wood.
While Andhra Pradesh is allowed till April 30, 2019, time up to August 31, 2018 has been fixed for other two states to finalise the modalities and complete the process of the exports of these woods.
"Time upto August 31, 2018 has been allowed to the governments of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to finalise the modalities and complete the process of export of respective allocated quantity of Red Sanders Wood," the DGFT has said.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) in a notification also said that time up to April 30, 2018 has been allowed to Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to complete these activities.
Further, it said that Andhra Pradesh government is permitted to complete the export of value added products of these woods till April 30 next year either by itself or through an authorised entity.
This wood is an endangered species of flora protected under the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna. It is illegal to possess and sell the same.
Red Sander is found mainly in the Seshachalam hill ranges spread across Kadapa, Chittoor and Kurnool in the Rayalaseema region and parts of Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh.
It has huge demand abroad, especially in China and Japan, where it commands a good price. According to some reports, the wood fetches Rs 25 lakh a tonne in the international market.
It is a valued item in traditional medicines and woodcraft across China, Myanmar, Japan and East Asia.
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