The Union Commerce Ministry has directed the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to register Basmati rice exports valued at $1,200 per metric tonne or more for a Registration-cum-Allocation Certificate (RCAC). Contracts below this threshold will be assessed by an APEDA committee to understand price variations and prevent the export of non-Basmati white rice. The committee must provide a report within one month, guiding decisions on lower-priced Basmati exports. Additionally, the Ministry has urged consultations with traders to discourage non-Basmati white rice exports. Recent export restrictions on broken rice and a 20% export duty on par-boiled non-Basmati rice have raised concerns about foodgrain availability in African countries.