UAE suspends re-export of Indian wheat for four months

The UAE has decided to impose a moratorium on the re-export of wheat and wheat flour originating from India, including freezones.

The country’s Ministry of Economy has issued cabinet resolution No.72 of 2022, imposing the moratorium for a period of four months, starting from May 13, 2022. The resolution applies to all wheat varieties (spelt), namely hard, ordinary, and soft wheat, and wheat flour (spelt flour).

The Ministry of Economy said that this decision comes in view of international developments that have affected trade flows and in appreciation of the relations between the UAE and India, after the Indian government’s approval to export wheat to the UAE for domestic consumption.

Companies that wish to export/re-export wheat and wheat flour varieties of Indian origin, which were imported into the UAE before May 13, must submit a request to the ministry to obtain permission to export outside of the country. They must submit all documents and files that help verify the data regarding the shipment in terms of its origin, date of transaction, and any other requisite documents, official news agency WAM reported.

The ministry also indicated that in the case of wheat and wheat flour products of non-Indian origin, companies wishing to export/re-export it may do so after applying to the ministry for export permission outside the country. This application must also be supported by all documents and files that help verify the origin of the shipment to be exported/re-exported.

It noted that the export permit issued to companies is valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and must be submitted to the relevant customs department in order to complete the procedures for exporting the shipment out of the country.

The UAE and India signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement in February this year, setting in motion a new period of strategic cooperation. India ranks as the UAE’s number one trading partner for non-oil exports, accounting for nearly 14 per cent of the country’s total non-oil exports globally.

Read: UAE and India sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement