Earlier in March, the government imposed a ban on de-oiled rice bran, used in the cattle feed industry till July 31. “Export of de-oiled rice bran is prohibited up to January 31, 2025,” the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has said in a notification.
Solvent Extractors Association Appeals to Government to Reevaluate Extension of De-Oiled Rice Bran Export Ban
SThe industry’s concerns extend beyond the export ban. Recent instances of adulteration in rice bran oil and de-oiled rice bran with substances like dolomite and corn DDGS have raised alarms.
The Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) has made a fresh appeal to the Union government to reconsider its decision to extend the ban on de-oiled rice bran exports until January 31, 2025.
The industry body argues that the continued restriction is causing severe underutilisation of processing plants, particularly in eastern India.
In a letter to its members, SEA highlighted the plight of rice bran processors in West Bengal, where plants are operating at low capacity or shutting down entirely. The association warned that this situation is negatively impacting the production of rice bran oil nationwide.
“We once again appeal to the government to reconsider this matter and allow the export of de-oiled rice bran in the larger interest of the industry, rice millers, farmers, and the nation,” SEA President Ajay Jhunjhunwala stated.
