The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has specified the identity standards for basmati rice to be enforced from August 1. Due to its unique quality attributes, basmati is a widely consumed variety of rice both domestically and globally and India accounts for two thirds of its global supply.
It fetches a price higher than the non-basmati varieties and hence is prone to various types of adulteration for economic gains which may include, among others, undeclared blending of other non-basmati varieties of rice.
The standards are aimed at establishing fair practices in the trade of basmati rice and protecting consumer interest, both domestically and globally.