The Rice Exporters Association of Chhattisgarh (TREACG) has formally requested Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to intervene in resolving China's suspension of seven Indian rice exporters. According to reports from The Hindu BusinessLine, the association has urged the minister to take up the matter with Chinese authorities and facilitate an early joint technical review. The exporters' body has suggested that a joint scientific and technical review may be undertaken by competent authorities of both countries, covering sampling procedures, GMO testing methodologies, laboratory protocols and applicable standards.
The dispute centers on differing GMO-related test results reported at destination despite non-GMO testing and certification at origin. As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, TREACG emphasized that both the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) have already clarified that commercial cultivation of GM rice is not permitted in India. The association stated that the concerned export consignments had undergone prescribed non-GMO testing and certification process prior to shipment from India.
According to The Hindu BusinessLine, China's General Administration of Customs (GACC) suspended registrations of seven Indian rice-exporting companies on alleged detection of genetically modified organisms in certain rice consignments. In March this year, China rejected three consignments of rice from three Indian exporters, citing those had traces of genetically modified organisms, and later suspended their licences. As the rejection of rice consignments increased on the same grounds, the names of four more companies were added to the list of exporters whose licences were revoked or suspended.
As reported by The Hindu BusinessLine, Mukesh Jain, President of TREACG, stated that an early, positive and amicable resolution of the matter would be an important step towards maintaining confidence and continuity in the India–China rice trade. The exporters' body emphasized that such resolution would safeguard India's agricultural export interests and protect Indian exporters, particularly by MSMEs, from avoidable financial and commercial difficulties.
