Haryana basmati export may hit new EU regulatory hurdle
KARNAL: Rice exporters from the state are worried as export of aromatic basmati rice to the European Union (EU) may hit a hurdle due to new regulatory regime on chemical residues.
Haryana has 70% share in the country’s 3.5 lakh metric tonne (MT) basmati export to EU at Rs 1,800 crore.
The exporters feel that the Indian rice, especially basmati and long-grained varieties, may fail to qualify the new criteria for the maximum residue limit (MRL) for tricyclazole, a chemical used for neck-and-pest control in paddy.
They said the EU has imposed a new condition, applicable from December 31, that MRL should be not more than 0.01 ppm (parts per million) instead of the earlier limit of 1 ppm.
The exporters said since farmers have already transplanted the crop using the routine pesticides it will not be possible for them to meet the new quality criteria.
Vijay Setia, president, All India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA), said, “Out of a total of 40 lakh MT rice export from India, 3.5 lakh MT is sent to Europe. But once this condition comes into effect,it will be difficult for us to export the Basmati and it may result in a fall in rice prices."
“We are organising seminars
EU HAS INTRODUCED A NEW CONDITION THAT MRL SHOULD BE NOT MORE THAN 0.01 PPM INSTEAD OF THE EARLIER LIMIT OF 1 PPM
and workshops for farmers and asking them to improve the quality of their rice and use tricyclazole chemical within 70 days of transplantation to avoid its impact in the rice,” he added.
The traders have approached the Centre to seek more time from EU to meet the new criteria.
"Since 2013, the prices of Basmati varieties are below Rs 3000 per quintal and this year we were expecting a rise but now they said that the European Union have imposed new conditions", said a Basmati grower Desh Raj of Unispur village of Karnal.
Karam Chand, deputy director, state agriculture department, said, “Tricyclazole is a pesticide used to control neckand-leaf pests and generally farmers use it when paddy is at maturing stage. But it should be used within 70 days of transplantation to avoid its impact on rice.”