The Hindu Business Line : Russia to lift curbs on Indian rice, oilseeds

As per the outcome of the Moscow meeting, India will send data to the Russian side on the pesticides used during rice cultivation and storage in the next six months.

Mohan Padmanabhan

Kolkata, July 12 The restriction imposed on import of rice, sesame seeds and groundnut from India by Russia’s Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance since May 1, is likely to go within a fortnight.

Informed Commerce Ministry sources told Business Line that firm indications to this effect were available following detailed discussions between the two sides at the recent Joint Study Group meeting in Moscow (the Indian side was led by the Commerce Secretary, Mr G.K.Pillai).

The curbs were imposed following allegations of inferior quality, plant-pests-infection, mustiness etc. Trade sources, however, say an exporter is dependent on terms of the contract, and the importer being a native of the country (in this case a Russian national) should be made responsible for lapses, if any.

According to one exporter of sesame seeds, his consignment was lying in the port for a long period of time, and contamination, if any, owing to such inordinate delay in clearance was beyond his control.

According to sources, while the Russian side handed over documents on safety parameters of plant origin products, including rice, to the Indian side, New Delhi officials also submitted a copy of the pesticides recommended by the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee for rice crop along with the indicative doses applicable during growing.

A list of other laboratories equipped with grain testing facilities and accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL) has also been given.

The Russian side, sources point out, felt that the system of safety control of rice supplied from India had no provision for transfer of data on pesticides used during rice cultivation and storage.

To provide data

According to Agriculture Ministry sources, Indian farmers currently do not submit the above information while supplying rice to mills. It is stated that at these rice mills, lots delivered by farmers are mixed with other rice lots from different farmers before sampling and testing for safety parameters. Indian exporters, sources add, do not seek information regarding pesticides used during rice and paddy growing or date of last treatment from suppliers.

It is learnt that as per the outcome of the Moscow meeting, the Indian side, during the next six months, will send data to the Russian side on the pesticides used during rice growing and storage and date of last treatment (which must be proved by the competent authority).

Sources said each lot of rice shipped, as per the protocol signed, has to be accompanied by a certificate issued by Shriram Insitute for Industrial Research, certifying conformity of safe limits as per Russian laws.

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