India allows exports of organic rice, wheat

India has issued a formal order lifting the ban on exports of organic rice and wheat with immediate effect, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in two statements on its Web site.

The government had banned exports of organic rice and wheat, produced without usage of chemicals and fertilisers, in 2008 and 2007 respectively.

Exports of non-basmati organic rice are now capped at 10,000 tonnes annually, while those of organic wheat are limited to 5,000 tonnes annually, the commerce ministry, also known as the trade ministry, said Monday (Dec 7).

Organic rice and wheat exports will have to be certified by the state-owned Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, it said.