DRI intercepts organic rice containers at three ports

20-Aug-2024 12:38 PM

Mumbai. Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) have seized more than 400 containers loaded with organic rice at three ports - JNPT, Kandla and Mundra, which were being sent abroad for export purpose.

In this regard, the Directorate had received some complaints that irregularities were being committed in the export shipment of this rice.

Experts say that non-organic common variety white and sella rice is being exported in the name of organic rice.

As a result, in the first four months of the current financial year i.e. during April-July 2024, the export of so-called organic rice increased to 1,46,585 tonnes,

which is about 39 thousand tonnes more than the total export of 1,07,727 tonnes during the entire period of last financial year.

The rice exported in the name of organic variety in the first four months of the current financial year also includes shipment of 1,27,120 tonnes of white rice and more than 8 thousand tonnes of broken rice.

It is known that the export of general category white and broken rice is already banned. Apart from this, 20 percent export duty is applicable on Sela rice, but some millers are shipping it in the name of organic rice to avoid it.

It is understood that during October 2023 to July 2024, the government was deprived of revenue of more than Rs 160 crore in export duty.

The Directorate has seized consignments of rice in more than 200 containers at JNPT port alone. 22,186 tonnes of organic rice was to be sent to Vietnam and 16,547 tonnes to Kenya.