Key Update

There will be no further sale of loose edible oil or repeated use of cooking oil in Maharashtra, following a stringent 14-point statewide compliance and enforcement order issued by the state food safety authority under Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The move aims to curb adulteration and strengthen food safety.

Violations involving unsafe food, possession of adulterants or operating without a valid licence can attract penalties of up to Rs 10 lakh. Substandard and misbranded oil can invite penalties of up to Rs 5 lakh and Rs 3 lakh, respectively. Licences may also be suspended or cancelled.

What does the order cover?

The order applies to all edible oils and fats, including groundnut, mustard, soybean, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, rice bran, palm, coconut, sesame and maize oils, as well as vanaspati. It also prohibits the reuse of old or rusted containers for storing or handling edible oil. The Maharashtra FDA’s order covers the entire supply chain, including oil expellers, refiners and manufacturers, blenders, repackers, importers, wholesalers, transporters, retailers and e-commerce sellers.

Why did the Maharashtra FDA take action?

According to Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, inspections found several businesses operating without valid licences or under incorrect licence categories. Officials also detected instances of adulteration, the use of cheaper undeclared oils, oil failing to meet prescribed standards, relabelling to conceal the source or date, and repackaging of near-expiry oil.

Key requirements under the FDA order

• Loose or unpackaged edible oil cannot be sold.
• Oil must be sold only in sealed, tamper-evident and fully labelled packages.
• Manufacturers and distributors dispatching oil in loose form will be treated as primary violators. Retailers must reject unsealed or tampered consignments and report suppliers to food safety officers.
• Packs of multi-sourced edible vegetable oil cannot exceed 15 kg and must carry AGMARK certification, along with the names and weight percentages of the constituent oils and the declaration “Not to be sold loose.”
• Multi-sourced edible oil manufactured after June 8, 2021 cannot contain mustard oil. Mustard oil must be sold in 100% pure form.

The order also prohibits the presence of argemone oil, mineral oil, castor oil and tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate in edible oil. Oil containing these substances will be classified as unsafe. In addition, the FDA has prohibited the reuse of single-use tin containers, citing the risk of metallic contamination.

Source: The Indian Express