By RANOBA BAOA
Punja & Sons has clarified they have rejected the consignment of rice confiscated by Vanuatu authorities the past week as it was alleged to be expired as per the labelling.
It said its suppliers, a reputable Indian company, had apologised and said a wrong date had accidentally been stamped on some bags.
Punja and Sons said it is investigating.
The company’s Indian-based supplier where the rice was sourced from, Jupiter Exports, told Punjas in a letter that it was a labelling issue on the packaging and not the rice itself.
Jupiter Exports further told Punjas the rice was harvested in October 2013.
Punja & Sons Group Marketing manager, Gopal Jadhav, told Sun Business Jupiter is one of the reputed suppliers of rice from India.
“Punjas has been buying from them without any problems so far. Their quality has been very good,” he said.
“In respect of this shipment, Jupiter has explained that it was new rice crop, October 2013 crop, but they stamped the wrong expiry date on the bag and did not correct it.”
Mr Jadhav confirmed Punjas plans to replace the rejected consignment with new one and new rice.
Vanuatu Daily Post reported that 500 bags of Round Grain White rice were seized because
the packages labeled had the rice expiree date as December 2012.
The big quantity was apprehended at the Port Vila main wharf after over 100 bags had been loaded on-board Santo-bound local vessel, LC Kaliar.
Supplier clarifies
Jupiter Exports in their letter said: “We declare that two FCL of Round Grain White rice under our Export Invoice No. 1432 dated November 22, 2013 is of new crop harvested in the month of October 2013.
“But the bag maker had printed the same design on the bags that were shipped to you in the year 2012 replacing the name Punjas with Silk Rose but without changing the expiry date.
“The port officers had found the incorrect expiry date and instructed our Customs broker to change the expiry date to 2014.
“Following this, Jupiter’s custom broker had replaced the older expiry date with the actual expiry date of 2014 with a marker.
“Unfortunately, he had changed only for the first row but not the rest of the bags.
“The bags were then packed with the new crop Round rice and dispatched to the port of
Tuticorin for shipment.
“We sincerely regret for the mistake happened from our side and ensure the same does not get repeated in our future shipments.”