The adulteration issues hampering basmati exports to Mauritius may soon be sorted out. Mauritius has said that there was a broad agreement on the certification mechanism proposed by India and that it will revert soon.
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma raised the issue of basmati exports in his bilateral meeting in Port Louis on Friday evening with Sayyad Abd-Al-Cader Sayed Hossen, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection, Mauritius.
Last April, Mauritius had conveyed that basmati rice from India and Pakistan was being adulterated by local traders.
In May 2013, a draft agreement for recognition of export inspection and certification system of Export Inspection Council of India for export of basmati rice to Mauritius was forwarded to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection of Mauritius. But, since then, there has been no movement on the issue.
Sharma said India will be happy to extend any assistance on the issue.
Basmati rice is a unique Geographical Indication (GI) product under the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Standards in India are dynamic in nature and are currently being harmonised amongst all relevant institutions for ensuring uniformity which will be notified when ready.
(The correspondent is on a trip sponsored by the Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority.)