Latest Updates – BIRC 2026 | Day 2

12:18 PM | BIRC 2026: Ravi Gupta Calls for Better Port Utilisation and Stronger Logistics Policies

Ravi Gupta stressed the need to improve the utilisation of ports, citing Haldia Port in West Bengal as an example. He urged the government to develop supportive logistics policies to help rice exporters ship more efficiently. He also emphasised that export competitiveness depends not only on the product but on how effectively it is transported to international markets. While India has strong bargaining power in rice trade, he noted that both the government and the trade industry have a role to play in making better use of this potential.

12:13 PM | BIRC 2026: Tarun Bajaj Outlines FTA Benefits for Rice Exporters

Tarun Bajaj explained how India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are opening up opportunities for rice exporters through tariff benefits, smoother trade processes and greater transparency. He also pointed out that broken rice exports remain permitted under specific conditions, while FTAs are helping strengthen India’s position in global rice markets.

12:04 PM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 6: Rajesh Paharia Flags Policy Shifts and Rising Export Restrictions in Global Rice Trade

Rajesh Paharia noted that rice remains a political commodity, with governments balancing domestic consumer needs and export interests. He observed that India’s rice trade environment was relatively smoother in 2025–26, with basmati exports largely free from major policy restrictions. However, non-basmati rice faced different challenges due to government procurement policies and domestic priorities. He also pointed to a wider trend of countries introducing their own export policies, citing Senegal’s limited export permissions and similar policy measures across Kenya and other African countries.

11:59AM | BIRC 2026 Day 2: Knowledge Session 6 Explores Policy, Trade Schemes and Incentives for the Rice Sector

Knowledge Session 6 at BIRC 2026 focused on policy frameworks, trade schemes and incentives shaping India’s rice industry and export landscape. The session was moderated by Sandeep Das from FE, with speakers Rajesh Paharia, Tarun Bajaj from APEDA, Shubhranshu Mishra, Rajiv Kumar, Ravi Gupta and Prashant Raizada sharing their perspectives on key policy and trade-related issues.

11:54 AM | BIRC 2026: Knowledge Session 5 Concludes with Key Insights on Rice Quality and Export Compliance

Knowledge Session 5 concluded with an informative and thought-provoking discussion, as speakers shared important insights on rice quality standards, certification, pesticide residue concerns and shipment rejections. The session emphasised the need for stronger quality management, effective testing and better coordination across the rice export supply chain.

11:33 AM| BIRC 2026: Isha Garg Flags Testing Costs, Certification Delays and Quality Challenges for Rice Exporters

Isha Garg outlined the challenges rice exporters face in maintaining quality standards while meeting export requirements. She pointed to repeated testing at private laboratories, retesting of new lots, certification costs and extensive documentation as key concerns. Delays in testing and approvals further increase costs and put pressure on already-low profit margins in the rice industry.

She also stressed that meeting different countries’ certification requirements while maintaining consistent rice quality remains a major challenge. Garg called for greater government oversight of the chemicals used by farmers, noting that controlling chemical use at the farm level could help exporters meet international standards while protecting India’s rice export interests.

11:24 AM | BIRC 2026: Dr. Pankaj Raises Concerns Over Buyer Perceptions and Pesticide-Related Risks in Rice Exports

Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy underscores concerns over the perception of Indian rice shipments among European buyers, arguing that pesticide-related issues should not be viewed solely as a supply-chain problem. He also discussed concerns surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the perception of rice as a natural product. He noted a broader shift in regulatory approaches, with countries moving from risk-based assessments towards greater scrutiny of hazardous substances and potential risks.

11:13 AM | BIRC 2026: Avinash Maheshwari Highlights Milling and Packaging Inspections to Prevent Rice Export Rejections

Avinash Maheshwari highlighted milling as a critical stage for inspection in the rice export supply chain. He emphasised that samples should be sent for testing if contaminants are suspected and stressed that quality checks must begin at the farm level to minimise the risk of shipment rejections. He also underlined the importance of packaging inspections in ensuring rice quality and compliance before export.

11:06 AM | BIRC 2026: Purvi Shah Calls for a Shift from Product Testing to Supply Chain Risk Prevention

Purvi Shah emphasised that risks can emerge at any stage of the rice supply chain, while testing the finished consignment provides valuable information about product quality and safety. She called for the industry to move beyond a testing-led approach and make greater use of advanced laboratory technologies and risk assessment to help clients anticipate potential issues. Shah also highlighted the importance of collaboration between testing services and insurance providers, saying that working together can strengthen risk management across the supply chain.

11:00 AM | BIRC 2026: Anand Sharma Highlights Pesticide Residues and Rice Shipment Rejections

Speaking at BIRC 2026, Anand Sharma presented data on chemical contaminants reported in rice-related food safety alerts, highlighting aflatoxins (39 notifications), ochratoxin A (21), MOSH/MOAH (17) and heavy metals (6) for 2025–26. He stressed the need to help exporters understand the reasons behind shipment rejections and comply with varying global maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides.

Emphasising prevention over rejection, Sharma highlighted the importance of a four-question framework, pesticide-use records maintained by farmers, free testing at the procurement stage, and testing-based decisions for procurement and final export release.

10:52 AM

UPDATE 1 | BIRC 2026: Rice Quality Parameters Divided into Negotiable and Non-Negotiable Standards

Speaking at BIRC 2026, Mirza Alam highlighted two key categories of rice quality parameters: buyer-seller requirements, which can be negotiated, and importing-country regulations, which are mandatory and non-negotiable. He also pointed to pesticide-related rejections in European markets, citing data for 2024–25 and 2025–26.

UPDATE 2 | BIRC 2026: Purity, Cooking Quality and Moisture Among Key Rice Export Concerns

Mirza Alam identified purity as a major concern in rice exports, alongside cooking quality for basmati rice and moisture levels for non-basmati rice. He also highlighted the issue of varietal mixing, underscoring the importance of maintaining consistent quality to avoid shipment rejections.

10:45 AM | BIRC 2026: Session 5 Focuses on Quality and Certification

Session 5 of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 is set to focus on Quality and Certification, bringing together industry experts to discuss key quality standards and certification requirements in rice exports.

The session will be moderated by Sandeep Das of FE, with speakers including Mirza Alam, Anand Sharma, Purvi Shah, Avinash Maheshwari, Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy and Mr. Sandeep from SGS. Isha Garg will represent the exporters’ perspective, highlighting industry concerns and practical challenges related to quality compliance and certification.

10:39 AM | BIRC 2026 Day 2 Opens with Saraswati Vandana

The second day of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 began with a Saraswati Vandana performance, marking the opening of the day's proceedings. The conference will continue with key knowledge sessions focusing on rice quality, certification and export compliance.

10:19 AM

UPDATE 1 | BIRC 2026: Session 2 to Focus on Rice Quality and Certification

The second day of BIRC 2026 is set to begin with Session 2, titled Quality and Certification. The session will address why buyers reject basmati and non-basmati rice shipments and explore measures exporters can take to prevent rejections and meet quality and certification requirements.

UPDATE 2 | BIRC 2026 Day 2 Begins

The second day of Bharat International Rice Conference (BIRC) 2026 is underway, with preparations completed for the day's programme. Knowledge Sessions 5 to 9 will feature discussions on key industry topics, followed by a cultural programme and the awards ceremony