Artificial rice was not imported to Uzbekistan from China, UzA reported with reference to the Customs Committee.

Earlier, a video was circulated on social networks that the rice imported to Tashkent from China was artificial and made of cellophane. According to Nurbek Salomov, head of the press service of the Customs Committee, such reports are not true.

It is noted that rice imported to Uzbekistan is inspected for various pests and insects, as well as highly dangerous infections. If the product is considered suitable for consumption or planting according to the conclusions of the relevant organizations, it is allowed to import it into Uzbekistan.

The Plant Quarantine and Protection Agency denied that such rice was imported.

According to the information received from the Ministry of Agriculture, more than 100,000 hectares of rice are grown in Uzbekistan every year. Average consumption of rice per capita is 9.8 kg per year. That is, 353,000 tons of rice are needed to fully provide the population of the republic with rice products. In 2022, 310,000 tons of rice will be grown in Uzbekistan. That is, 43 thousand tons less than the demand of the population.

In 2022, 8,000 tons of rice were imported across the country, and in 2023, 53,500 tons of rice were imported. That is, 10,000 tons of excess rice was imported compared to consumption.

Rice imports were 29,300 tons (54.7%) from Kazakhstan, 23,200 tons (43.3%) from Pakistan, 599 tons (1.1%) from Thailand, 265 tons (0.5%) from Turkey and 126 tons from India. tons (0.2%) and 21.1 tons (0.02%) from other countries.