Rice mill registration made compulsory

Chaminda PERERA

Registration of all rice processing mills in the country with the Paddy Marketing Board has been made compulsory by the Government.

The mill owners should obtain a licence from the Board and it has to be renewed annually.

The Gazette notification in this regard has been issued by Cooperatives and Internal Trade Minister Johnston Fernando under the provision of Paddy Marketing Board Act of 1971. According to Minister Fernando, the rice mill owners and rice processors will no longer be able to hoard buffer stocks and make fast buck by creating artificial rice shortage.

The Minister said the Government finds it difficult in determining the existing rice stocks as many mill owners are in the habit of keeping large rice stocks to be issued to the market at a time when the rice prices go up. According to the Gazette notification, those who indulge in processing and rice milling should submit a monthly report to the PMB with regard to the activities of the mill or rice processing unit.

Authorized paddy purchasers and those who are involved in the transporting and distribution of rice business should submit a monthly report to the PMB.

The contents that should be in the report is decided by the Board time to time. Determination of annual registration fees is totally dependant on the capacity of machines and the registration fees varies from Rs 500 to Rs 12,000 on the basis of capacity of rice processing machine.