India's rice exports hit as Saudi Arabia makes quality rules stringent

Basmati exports to Saudi Arabia have declined to below 20 per cent in the financial year 2018-19 from over 26 per cent 2014-15.

Saudi Arabia's new quality certification rules for imported rice has upset the plans of Indian exporters looking for a new market after the US imposed sanctions on Iran.

The Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA), the quality regulator, has from September 1 made it mandatory for each rice consignment to be  accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity (COC). It has given Indian rice exporters time till December 31 to provide an affidavit undertaking for consignments sent after September 1, 2019 that COC will be submitted in due course.

Indian exporters estimate a sharp decline in exports to the kingdom from next year