After FDA ban, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis’ one-year breather to loose oil traders

Following a recent clampdown by Maharashtra's food safety body on the sale of unpackaged edible oil, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced a one-year exemption for small traders and vendors. The decision was made after Fadnavis met with a delegation of oil traders who expressed concerns over the impact of the FDA's action.

The FDA, led by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, has been actively combating food adulteration, and recently prohibited the sale of loose edible oil, affecting small vendors and low-income consumers who purchase oil in small quantities. Fadnavis stated that the one-year breather would provide traders enough time to transition to the required packaging and safety standards.

The safety law, enacted in 2011, remains a top priority, but the government acknowledges that many low-income families still rely on buying loose oil daily. A joint committee consisting of FDA officials and representatives of the trading community will now study the operational difficulties faced by traditional vendors and create a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the transition.

Fadnavis emphasized that the exemption would not be extended beyond the one-year period, urging traders to utilize the time to bring their operations into compliance with the law. The FDA's August 20 order aimed to eliminate risks associated with loose oil by mandating sealed packaging with details such as the source and expiry date.

The action followed inspections that identified issues like adulteration, the use of non-food-grade containers, relabelling, and other violations.