REPORT BY THE SECRETARIAT: SECTION III: TRADE POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY MEASURE: (3) MEASURES DIRECTLY AFFECTING EXPORTS: Paragraph 135
"Export prohibitions apply mainly for environmental, food security, marketing, pricing, and domestic supply reasons; and to comply with international treaties."
Question 32: Please explain how export prohibitions for environmental, food security, marketing, pricing, and domestic supply reasons are applied in a way consistent with WTO rules?
Reply: In the Foreign Trade Policy, the prohibition and restriction on exports are given in Schedule II of ITC(HS) Classification of Export and Import items. From the entries given under various chapters of Schedule II, it would be clear that the restrictions are imposed on the basis of environmental, wild life, food security, and international treaties and with respect to special chemicals, organisms, materials, equipment and technology (SCOMET). Of late, restrictions have been imposed on export of certain commodities like pulses etc., in view of food security reasons. The WTO Agreements permit a Member to maintain such prohibitions and restrictions.
