Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, FSSAI has notified comprehensive regulatory standards for Basmati Rice for the first time. These standards will be enforced from 1st of August 2023.
Reasons behind regulatory standards
- The standards are aimed at establishing fair practices in the trade of Basmati rice and protect consumer interest, both domestically and globally.
- Basmati rice is prone to various types of adulteration for economic gains which may include, among others, undeclared blending of other non-basmati varieties of rice.
Salient features of regulatory standards
- Regulatory standards for basmati rice shall also be applicable to brown basmati rice, milled basmati rice, parboiled brown basmati rice and milled parboiled basmati rice vide Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) First Amendment Regulations, 2023 notified in the Gazette of India.
- As per these standards, Basmati rice shall possess natural fragrance characteristics of basmati rice and be free from artificial colouring, polishing agents, and artificial fragrances.
- These standards also specify various identity and quality parameters for basmati rice such as the average size of grains, maximum limits of moisture, uric acid, and damaged grains. Basmati rice is a premium variety of rice cultivated in the Himalayan foothills of the Indian sub-continent.
- Basmati is a widely consumed variety of rice both domestically and globally and India accounts for two-thirds of its global supply.
About Basmati rice
- Basmati rice originated in India.
- The rainfall requirement is 700 mm to 1100 mm.
- The mean temperature ranges from 16.4 to 32.1 ° C. Relative humidity ranges from 65 to 92%.
- Basmati type rice s is mostly cultivated in alluvial and tarai soils. The soils are neutral to slightly alkaline and calcareous. Soils are loam to clay loam
- Annual production of Basmati rice in the country is around 8.5 to 9 million tonne (MT), out of which around 4 MT is exported.
- Basmati rice is a premium variety of rice cultivated in the Himalayan foothills mostly in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and is universally known for its long grain size, fluffy texture and unique inherent aroma and flavour.
- Geographical Indication (GI) tagged Basmati rice states: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and UT of Jammu & Kashmir.
- India is the largest exporter of Basmati rice, which is one of the major varieties of aromatic or scented rice. India has a share of around 80% global trade of Basmati rice.
