• The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has extended the ban on exports of de-oiled rice bran by another four months, according to an official notification on March 15.

• The DGFT had initially banned the export of the commodity derivative in July 2023 for four months and later extended it till March 2024.

• De-oiled rice bran, extracted from rice bran, is widely used as a nutrition product for feeding cattle, and other animals.

• According to experts, rise of prices of the feed is one of the major reasons for increasing milk prices in the country and putting a ban on the exports can help increase availability of the product in the domestic market, thereby containing rates.

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)

• Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) is an attached office of the ministry of commerce and industry. Right from its inception till 1991, when liberalisation in the economic policies of the government took place, DGFT has been essentially involved in the regulation and promotion of foreign trade.

• Keeping in line with policies of liberalisation and globalisation and the overall objective of increasing exports, DGFT has been assigned the role of a “facilitator”. The transition has been from prohibition and control of imports/exports towards promotion and facilitation of exports/imports, keeping in view the interests of the country.

• This Directorate, with headquarters at New Delhi, is headed by the Director General of Foreign Trade. 

• It assists the government in formulation of Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) and is responsible for implementing the Policy and schemes under FTP with the main objective of promoting India’s exports. 

• Further, it is responsible for implementation of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and Rules and Regulations notified thereunder. 

• The DGFT also issues authorisations to exporters and monitors their corresponding obligations through a network of 24 regional offices.

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