The Maharashtra government has given traders selling loose edible oil one year to comply with new restrictions, effectively deferring enforcement as the state works out a transition mechanism for businesses.
The decision comes a week after the government put its immediate ban on the sale of loose edible oil on hold following strong opposition from traders. Officials said the state will now form two committees to examine the challenges faced by businesses and recommend measures to help them shift to the new regulatory requirements.
One committee will study the difficulties faced by traders and businesses operating through traditional methods and suggest ways to facilitate their transition. The second will assess the systems, infrastructure and facilities required by edible oil sellers, manufacturers, repacking units and other stakeholders to meet the regulations.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed both committees to consult all concerned stakeholders and submit their recommendations within a month.
The decision was taken during a meeting between Fadnavis and representatives of the edible oil trading community on Tuesday. Traders had strongly opposed the restrictions announced last month, with many businesses having operated for generations.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had enforced the ban on August 20 as part of efforts to curb adulteration and protect public health. Under the order, cooking oil was required to be sold only in sealed, tamper-evident and properly labelled food-grade packaging, with information such as its source and expiry date clearly mentioned.
However, amid intense opposition from the edible oil trade, the Maharashtra government withdrew the immediate enforcement of the ban on August 24.
“The government does not want to deprive any business of its livelihood,” Fadnavis was reported to have said at Tuesday’s meeting. He said the government would focus on creating the facilities required for businesses to comply with the law and would provide assistance wherever necessary to make the transition smoother.
Fadnavis also pointed out that the law governing the sale of loose edible oil was enacted in 2011, stressing that ensuring the quality and safety of edible oil remained the government’s primary concern.
At the same time, he acknowledged that many lower-income consumers rely on loose oil because it is cheaper than packaged alternatives. The government, he said, therefore needs to balance food-safety requirements with the concerns of consumers and traditional traders.
The central government introduced legal provisions regulating loose edible oil in 2011 amid concerns over adulteration and its potential impact on public health. The Central Advisory Committee subsequently issued directions for tighter regulation, with four notifications issued to operationalise the rules. The latest notification was issued on August 28, 2020.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Fadnavis made it clear that the latest relaxation would last for one year only and would not be extended. Traders will be required to comply with the regulations once the one-year period ends, he said.
Maharashtra currently has 2,103 licensed businesses dealing in loose edible oil. Of these, 370 are licensed for selling oil after repacking, while 489 hold licences for manufacturing edible oil.
The year-long window is expected to give traders time to upgrade their operations and infrastructure before the restrictions on the sale of loose edible oil are fully enforced.
