Russia has lifted the ban on import of non-basmati rice and oilseeds from India, a move likely to give boost to exports of rice to that country following the intervention of Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma during his visit to ASEAN Ministerial meeting in Brunei last month.
Oilseeds imports
“Russia has lifted ban on import of non-basmati rice from India and we hope to make significant gains in the Russian market. They have also removed ban on oilseeds imports,’’ Commerce Secretary, S. R. Rao told reporters here. Mr. Sharma had met Alexey Valentinovich Ulyukaev, Minister of Economic Development, Russia, and raised the issue of temporary suspension of Indian rice export to that country and had also sought market access for Indian bovine meat.
About eight months ago, Russia had imposed the ban on import of Indian non-basmati rice due to the presence of khapra beetles pest in rice and aflatoxin contamination of peanuts.
