Russia bans import of rice, groundnut, sesame from India

Russia has banned import of Indian rice, groundnut and sesame from today after raising concerns over their quality. Russia's agriculture watchdog RosSelkhozNadzor had conveyed its decision to New Delhi in March to impose ban from may one if it failed to take steps to check the export of "hazardous" commodities.

It claimed it cases of contaminated rice, sesame seeds and groundnut import from India are registered regularly. The ban on import of rice, groundnut and sesame seeds came into effect from today, Interfax reported.

In January, a consignment of 54 tons of groundnut with dangerous pests was stopped, while in march a consignment of 125 tons of Indian rice with pests was found, RosSelkhozNadzor alleged. Russian agriculture watchdog had proposed to the Indian authorities that information on the use, dosage and last date of use of pesticides be provided with every consignment of rice exported to Russia, the news agency reported.

Although India remains the top exporter of rice to Russia, Moscow has earlier clamped similar bans on Pakistan, Thailand and Egypt.