Foroud Asgari, a deputy head of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA), said that the seasonal ban on rice imports will not become operational this year.
The official noted that the lifting of the ban is taking place this year upon a decision made by a meeting of a market regulation headquarters based on a proposal by the Ministry of Agriculture. He added that rice imports will continue as before.
Under the terms of Article 10(8) of the country’s Law regulating exports and imports, clearance of rice imports is banned in the domestic harvest season (July 23 – Nov 21).
Due to the increasing prices in the domestic market, there have been negotiations for lifting ban on rice imports this year and the importers had called for the imports to continue.
Traders also pressed for lifting of the ban on rice imports amid soaring prices last year, but the government did not agree to lift the ban under the pressures.