The Export Inspection Council (EIC) and wheat flour export

The Export Inspection Council (EIC) and wheat flour export

Subject :Economy

Section :External Sector

Context:

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade and the Food Ministry are planning to rope in quality inspection agencies like the Export Inspection Council (EIC) to carry out the testing  for wheat flour (atta) exports to assist the Inter­Ministerial Committee (IMC) on wheat approve consignments as per the amended export policy.

Details:

The chosen agency will send its lab testing report to the IMC based on which it will give its export recommendation,”

Concept:

The Export Inspection Council (EIC):

• It is the official export –certification body of India- an autonomous body under ministry of commerce and industry.
• It ensures quality and safety of products exported from India. 
• EIC was set up by the Government of India under Section 3 of the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act, 1963 to ensure sound development of export trade of India through quality control and inspection and matters connected therewith.
• The role of EIC is to ensure that products notified under the Export (Quality Control and Inspection) Act 1963 are meeting the requirements of the importing countries in respect of their quality and safety.
• The Export Inspection Council is located at Delhi and is headed by a Chairman.
• The Executive Head of the Council is the Director of Inspection & Quality Control who is responsible for day to day functioning of the Council.
• The assurance to quality and safety is provided through:
  • a consignment wise inspection or
  • a quality assurance / food safety management based certification through its field organization.
• EIC provides mandatory certification for various Food items namely fish & fishery products, dairy product, honey, egg products, meat and meat products, poultry meat products, animal casing, Gelatine, Ossein and crushed bones and feed additive and pre-mixtures while other food and non-food products are certified on voluntary basis.
• EIC is the only organization in India having global acceptance.

Export Policy on Wheat flour:

• Government has imposed restrictions on outbound shipments of wheat flour or atta, maida and semolina, a move aimed at containing price rise.
• Exporters of these commodities now need approval of the inter-ministerial committee on export of wheat for the shipments from July 12.
• Thus, export policy of wheat flour (atta) remains free but export shall be subject to recommendation of the inter-ministerial committee on export of wheat.
• The new approval framework will be applicable for wheat flour (atta), maida, semolina (rava/ sirgi), wholemeal atta and resultant atta.
• The necessary modalities with regard to quality of wheat flour will be notified separately.
• In May, India banned wheat exports in a bid to check high prices.