SGS Unveils High-Tech Rice Testing to Slash Export Rejections
SGS unveils advanced rice testing and QR-code traceability at BIRC 2026 to tackle pesticide residues and aflatoxin rejections in exports.
At the Bharat International Rice Conference 2026, held at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam from October 23 to 25, testing, inspection, and certification giant SGS has put its advanced SGS rice testing solutions center stage. The company is leveraging the event to address a critical pain point for Indian exporters: the rising rate of shipment rejections in international markets due to contaminants and pesticide residues.
An 'Experience Zone' for Quality Control
To provide a hands-on look at how quality is maintained, SGS has established a dedicated 'experience zone.' This area demonstrates the intricate procedures used to identify defects and dangerous contaminants, such as aflatoxins. These toxins have recently become a major hurdle for exporters trying to comply with strict international trade regulations.
Fighting the Rejection Crisis with Speed and Precision
The urgency for better testing is backed by startling industry data revealed during the conference. In the fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26, pesticide residues were the primary cause of Indian rice shipment rejections in European markets, accounting for a staggering 69% of failures. Aflatoxins followed as the second biggest culprit, responsible for 23% of rejections.
To combat this, Aswathy V. Krishnan, Head of Digital Sensory and Advanced Centre for Testing at SGS India, announced that the company now offers pesticide residue analysis with a rapid turnaround time of just 24 to 72 hours. This speed allows exporters and buyers to verify the quality of a consignment and ensure it meets global regulatory standards before it ever leaves the shore.
The Technology Behind the Test
The secret to this efficiency lies in the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology. This sophisticated system allows SGS to screen for approximately 750 different molecules in a single analysis run, providing a comprehensive safety profile of the grain.
From Reactive to Proactive: A New Strategy
Poorvi Shah, Head of Food Testing Services at SGS India, highlighted a fundamental shift in the industry's approach. Rather than reacting to a rejection after a shipment has reached its destination, the goal is now proactive testing. By integrating safety checks throughout the entire supply chain, the risk of costly shipment failures is significantly reduced.
Traceability via QR Codes
Adding another layer of security, Sandeep Patankar, National Head of Sales and Marketing at SGS India, detailed the implementation of QR-code-enabled traceability. This system allows stakeholders to track consignments with precision, making it possible to pinpoint the exact source of any quality failure and implement corrective measures at the origin.
A Collaborative Push for Farm-Level Change
The conference wasn't just about laboratory testing; it emphasized the need for change at the root. Industry experts including Mirza Alam of AHK Group, Anand Sharma of EAS, Dr. Pankaj Jaiminy of Eurofins Analytical Services India, and Isha Garg of VI Exports joined the conversation, focusing on the necessity of strengthening pesticide management at the farm level to ensure the rice is clean from the moment it is grown.