India's Non-Basmati Rice Ban Move Triggers Panic Buying In US, Canada

India's ban on the export of non-Basmati white rice has triggered panic among expatriate Indians living in the United States and Canada, who are making a beeline at grocery stores.

Some stores are experiencing a sudden surge in Indians, particularly South Indians, who are buying a few bags of rice in a panic state.

Some NRIs took to Twitter to give a glimpse of the chaos amongst NRI's for buying rice stock in USA.

Reportedly, long queues have formed outside grocery stores, and prices have doubled.

The government on Thursday prohibited the export of non-basmati white rice, according to a notification of the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT).

"Export policy of non-basmati white rice (semi-milled or wholly milled rice, whether or not polished or glazed)...is amended from free to prohibited," the DGFT said in a notification.

However, it said that the consignments of this rice will be allowed to be exported under certain conditions such as where loading of this rice on the ship has commenced before this notification.

Export will also be allowed on the basis of permission granted by the government to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their governments, it added.