NEW DELHI, Aug 3 (Reuters) - India, the world's top consumer of sugar, has issued a formal order to extend duty-free sugar imports, according to a government statement on Monday.
On Friday, Farm Minister Sharad Pawar told the parliament that India has extended its scheme to allow duty-free raw sugar imports until March and white sugar imports up to November.
Private traders who are registered with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority have been allowed to import white sugar till the extended period along with three state-owned firms.
The government's move to allow imports of up to 1 million tonnes of tax-free refined sugar until Nov. 30 is expected to help prevent a shortage and keep prices under control.
Source : REUTERS