New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- As part of its strategy to diversify exports amid US tariff headwinds, the government has drawn up a plan to boost rice shipments to non-EU (European Union) European countries by easing inspection norms.

According to a government notification issued on 4 October, exporters will no longer require the mandatory Certificate of Inspection from the Export Inspection Council (EIC) or its agencies for consignments headed to European countries outside the EU, the UK, and the four-nation bloc EFTA (European Free Trade Association)-comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. EIC is a body under the ministry of commerce that assures quality of exports.

The exemption will be in force for six months, until 2 April...