Centre permits export of wheat consignments registered with customs authority earlier than ban

By PTI

NEW DELHI: Relaxing norms, the federal government on Tuesday mentioned it has determined to permit shipments of wheat consignments that had been registered with the customs authority earlier than the wheat export ban got here into drive on May 13.

On May 13, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification banning exports of wheat with quick impact to manage worth rise. “It has been decided that wherever wheat consignments have been handed over to Customs for examination and have been registered into their systems on or prior to May 13, such consignments would be allowed to be exported,” the commerce ministry mentioned in a press release.

It mentioned that the federal government has additionally allowed a wheat consignment headed for Egypt, which was already underneath loading on the Kandla port. The transfer follows a request by the Egyptian authorities to allow the wheat cargo that was being loaded on the Kandla port.

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Mera International India Pvt Ltd, the corporate engaged for the export of the wheat to Egypt, had additionally given a illustration for completion of loading of 61,500 MT of wheat of which 44,340 MT had already been loaded and solely 17,160 MT was left to be loaded, it added.

The authorities determined to allow the complete consignment of 61,500 MT and allowed it to sail from Kandla to Egypt, the ministry mentioned. The transfer additionally comes in opposition to the backdrop of stories that hundreds of vans carrying wheat had been within the queue outdoors some ports as a result of sudden announcement of the wheat export ban.

The authorities had earlier restricted wheat exports to handle the general meals safety scenario in India and to assist the wants of neighbouring and susceptible nations which have been adversely affected by the sudden modifications within the world marketplace for wheat and are unable to entry satisfactory wheat provides.

As per the order issued on May 13, the restrictions wouldn’t apply in circumstances the place prior commitments have been made by non-public merchants by means of a Letter of Credit in addition to in conditions the place permission is granted by the federal government to different nations to fulfill their meals safety wants and on the requests of their governments.

“The order served three main purposes: ensure India’s food security and check inflation, it helps other countries facing food deficit, and it maintains India’s reliability as a supplier,” the ministry mentioned within the assertion, including that the order additionally aimed to supply a transparent course to the wheat market to forestall hoarding of wheat provides.