The Centre is considering raising import duty on white sugar to 20 per cent to check it from flooding the domestic market. Food Minister K V Thomas said this while talking to reporters in New Delhi today. AIR correspondent adds at present, import duty on white sugar as well as raw sugar is at 10 per cent each.

The Food Minister said the decision on this issue would be taken soon. He added a cabinet note will be moved in the next 10-15 days after consultation with the concerned ministries.

Mr Thomas said, the government is also looking at scrapping the import duty on raw sugar. He said, it is necessary as imported sweetener would be refined in the domestic market, generating employment.

On sugar exports, the minister said the free sugar export policy in the current 2012-13 marketing year that started this month will continue.