Basmati rice import MSB seeks Reap's help to get rid of adulterated rice

Mauritius Standards Bureau (MSB) has sought help from Pakistan to develop standards for Basmati rice import to get rid of adulterated/blended rice which is presently flooding its market. Rice Exporters Association of Pakistan (REAP) has been asked by the Mauritius Standards Bureau, on the REAP, to assist it for developing such standards, said REAP Chairman Samee Ullah Naeem while talking to Business Recorder here on Wednesday.
Samee recently led a 20 member delegation to Mauritius to explore the possibilities of Pakistan's entry in to a market, which consumes 60,000 tons of rice annually both Basmati and Non-Basmati. The Association also arranged a 'Biryani Festival' in Mauritius on March 23 marking Pakistan Day, which was attended by 250 high level dignitaries, bureaucrats and high end rice buyers. The festival was aimed at introducing the quality rice to the decision makers of Mauritius, Samee said and claimed that the event was a big success.
He said that the participants appreciated the quality, aroma and other features of Pakistani rice. He said the festival was the first-ever such event held in Mauritius. Acting President of Mauritius and Vice Prime Minister also graced this occasion, he added.
Samee said that the delegation visited different government departments such as Ministry of Commerce, Mauritius Standards Bureau and State Trading Corporation of Mauritius. During visit to different markets, the delegation felt that markets of this rice loving country were flooded with adulterated or blended rice.
REAP Chairman said that they proposed the Mauritius officials to develop some standards as are present in different global markets including Europe to ensure presence of only pure varieties. He said that Mauritian people consume around 32,000 tons of Basmati and 28,000 tons of Non-Basmati rice. He said that we proposed the government to develop some homogenized standards for both Pakistan and Indian rice. On our proposal they had asked us to first give them a draft of some standards after which they would convene a joint meeting with the REAP and All India Rice Exporters Association's representatives to develop some final list of standards. He said after that only pure varieties certified according to these standards could make to the market.
Samee was hopeful that Pakistan which was already ruling the non-basmati market of Mauritius, could easily take export of Basmati to 15,000 tons per annum from present meager 2,000 tons per annum. To another question, he said that the Association was trying its best to explore virgin markets for Pakistani rice and visit to Mauritius was part of that plan. 'We are planning to visit Iran, which is big Pakistani basmati rice market, and Brazil in near future to boost our exports,' Samee Ullah Naeem concluded.