On 15 May 2020, the Government announced that from 20 May, the ban on exports of white and paddy rice would be lifted. The ban was imposed on 5 April 2020 to ensure domestic supplies and local food security during the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to lift the ban came amid good domestic availabilities and a request of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) to resume exports, with the Philippines seeking to import 300 000 tonnes of milled rice from major producers in the subregion. The move follows similar easing of COVID-19-related trade limitations in Viet Nam, Myanmar and India (FPMA Food Policies).