Producers: Stop the preferences for countries producing rice with questionable GMOs

The area on which rice is grown in the EU countries is approximately 401,000 hectares, with an expected production of 1.5 million tons. It is expected that imports into the EU from third countries will reach 1.5 million tons, mainly from India and Pakistan, as well as from Myanmar and Cambodia, which benefit from a preferential customs tariff - zero duty for all types of rice and for all stages of processing. However, the EU's exports to third countries are estimated at just under 240,000 tons. Measures should be taken to increase exports to countries that do not produce rice but value high-quality products. European rice can be considered a niche product aimed at consumers who are willing to pay a higher price for a quality product grown in accordance with ethical and environmentally sustainable principles. "The general argument is that the preferences for developing countries that bring a lot of cheap rice to Europe should be reduced. Their fields have been treated without ...