Attention is invited to the conditions stipulated in the Notification No.38 (RE-2007)/2004-09 dated 15.10.2007 vide which export of non-basmati rice was banned w.e.f.9th October, 2007. It has been brought to the notice of this office that various customs authorities are not permitting export of rice even in cases where shipping bills have been filed and let export date given much prior to the date of ban. In this connection attention is invited to the provisions contained in paragraph 9.12 of the Handbook of Procedures Vol.I (RE-2007)/2004-09 which, inter-alia, provides as under :-

“However, where procedural / policy provisions have been modified to disadvantage, same shall not be applicable to consignments already handed over to customs for examination and subsequent exports upto Public Notice / Notification date.”

In this regard it is clarified that the ban on export of non-basmati rice will not be applicable for the consignments which are covered under the above mentioned provisions of Handbook of Procedures Vol.I

This issues with the approval of DGFT.

(Dr.Shyam Agarwal)
Addl. Director General of Foreign Trade