New Delhi, Mar 8 (PTI) The government has lifted the export ban on broken rice to promote its shipments.

The ban was imposed in September 2022.

"Export policy of broken rice has been amended from prohibited to free with immediate effect," the Directorate General of Foreign Trade has said in a notification.

Exporters have earlier urged the government to permit the shipments due to the rise in inventories.

Last year, the government removed the minimum export price (MEP) of USD 490 per tonne on overseas shipments of non-basmati white rice and withdrew a blanket ban on the shipments of this variety.

These measures came at a time when the country has ample rice stock at government godowns and retail prices are also under control.

The export restriction was imposed as the Russia-Ukraine war had disrupted the foodgrain supply chain.

Though there was a ban on exports, the government allowed the shipments to friendly and needy countries on a request basis.

In 2023-24, India exported broken rice worth USD 194.58 million to countries like Gambia, Benin, Senegal and Indonesia. It was USD 983.46 million in 2022-23 and USD 1.13 billion in 2021-22. PTI RR BAL BAL

Export liberalisation of broken rice enables shipments after ban lifted; policy amended to free to promote exports. Export policy for broken rice has been amended from prohibited to free, lifting the export ban with immediate effect to promote shipments. The change follows prior removal of the minimum export price for non-basmati white rice and reflects ample government stocks and controlled retail prices, enabling exporters to resume shipments and formalising a general free export regime.