Maharashtra gives traders one year to comply with loose edible oil restrictions

Maharashtra’s government has given traders a year to adjust to restrictions on loose edible oil after strong resistance from businesses. The decision followed a meeting between Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and trading representatives on Tuesday.

The government will form a joint committee including Food and Drug Administration officials and trader representatives. It will identify the operational and infrastructure changes traditional oil businesses need to make under existing law and recommend ways to support the transition.

The FDA issued an order on Aug. 20 banning the sale of loose or unpackaged edible oils and fats. Under the order, cooking oil must be sold in sealed, tamper-evident, food-grade packaging with labels showing details such as its source and expiry date. The government says the restrictions aim to prevent adulteration and protect public health.

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The state government therefore needed to strike a balance between enforcing food-safety norms and addressing the concerns of consumers and traditional traders.

Traders held a statewide meeting on Aug. 23 and threatened an aggressive protest, giving the government 15 days to withdraw the restrictions. Fadnavis announced on Aug. 24 that the ban would be revoked because it harmed an edible oil industry that includes businesses operating for generations.

At Tuesday’s meeting, Fadnavis said the government still considered the rules necessary. He also acknowledged that many economically weaker consumers buy loose oil because it costs less than packaged alternatives. “The state government therefore needed to strike a balance between enforcing food-safety norms and addressing the concerns of consumers and traditional traders,” he said.

Fadnavis stressed that traders must comply when the one-year period ends. “Traders will have to comply with the law once the one-year period ends,” he said.

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Traders will have to comply with the law once the one-year period ends.