New Delhi, 14 May (H.S.):

The central government has immediately prohibited the export of raw, white, and refined sugar to maintain control over domestic market prices. This restriction will remain in effect until September. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) issued a notification to this effect late on May 13.

According to the notification, the sugar export policy has been amended. The government has changed the export policy for sugar under ITC (HS) codes 1701 14 90 and 1701 99 90 from restricted to prohibited. This order encompasses the export of raw sugar, white sugar, and refined sugar. This ban will not apply to sugar exports to the European Union and the United States under the CXL and TRQ quotas, under the Advance Authorisation Scheme (AAS), and to shipments by both governments to meet other countries' food security needs.

Moreover, consignments already in the export process have also been exempted from this restriction.

As per the notification, if it is not extended beyond September, the export policy will revert to the restricted category. It is noteworthy that the Centre had previously permitted mills to export 1.59 million tonnes of sugar. Production is expected to remain below consumption for the second consecutive year. Sugarcane yields have weakened in major producing regions. India is the world's second-largest sugar exporter after Brazil.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar