Wheat consignments examined by customs can be exported: Commerce Dept

Announcement comes days after DGFT banned all wheat exports to bolster falling stocks and manage food security; govt also allows wheat already being loaded at Kandla to head to Egypt

Days after it banned wheat export, the commerce department on Tuesday said it was allowing outbound shipments that had been handed over to Customs for examination, and registered in their systems on or before May 13, thereby offering some “relaxation”.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the department, banned all types of wheat exports with immediate effect to salvage its falling inventories.

The decision was taken to manage overall food security in the country and support the needs of neighbouring countries, amid concern on inflation.

The order came on May 13.

The government has allowed a 61,500-tonne shipment to sail from Kandla