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Russia bans Indian rice

Moscow/New Delhi: Russia banned imports of rice, groundnut and sesame seeds from India on Tuesday after finding pests in some consignments, even as New Delhi sought time till November saying the new crop would be free from the problem.

``Actual ban was in force from May 1, but import was allowed on the basis of earlier issued certificates. Now a complete ban has come into force as Indian authorities have failed to take proper quality control measures,'' Interfax reported, quoting agriculture watchdog `Rosselkhoznadzor'.

Moscow had earlier claimed to have found several consignments of Indian rice, groundnuts and sesame seeds contaminated with pests.

A Commerce Ministry spokesperson said in New Delhi that the government has taken up the issue with Russia while maintaining that Indian agri-products conform to international sanitary and phyto-sanitary norms. India exports 50,000 tonnes of basmati and non basmati rice out of its total exports of four million tonnes. — PTI

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