Key Development 

India is set to roll out a new regulation in 2025 to modernise how vegetable oils are tracked, reported, and sold. The upcoming Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Regulation Order will replace the existing 2011 framework. The focus of VOPPA is on food safety, transparency, and digital tracking. Companies will now be required to use digital tools to report real-time data on oil production, sales, and storage. This shift will help authorities monitor the journey of edible oil — from port to plate — more effectively, offering better oversight and consumer protection. Officials say they currently depend on industry groups for updates, which limits transparency. VOPPA aims to fix that by providing direct, verified data to the government.

A Step Toward Safer, More Trustworthy Oils

The new system is expected to detect issues faster, such as adulteration, stockpiling, or price manipulation. It will also make label checks, origin tracing, and inspections more efficient, all of which are key to ensuring that edible oils remain safe and trustworthy for consumers. Edible oil prices have been under close watch, with rates rising by 20–30% annually, except for groundnut oil. To manage prices, the government has already cut import duties on crude oil and is verifying whether sellers are passing on the benefit to consumers. In addition, officials may release part of the 7 lakh tonne mustard seed stock to stabilise mustard oil prices.

Reducing Import Dependence

India continues to import large volumes of edible oil due to lower yields from local crops like soybean, mustard, and sunflower. To address this, the government is investing in research, better seeds, and improved farming practices. Schemes like the National Mission on Edible Oils–Oilseeds and PM Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana are working to boost domestic output. New, high-yield Indian seed varieties have shown promise but need wider adoption to make a significant impact.

Industry Voices Back the Move

At a recent industry event, leaders from Godrej, IVPA, and ITC backed the new regulation and emphasised the importance of accurate data and robust policies. IVPA President Sudhakar Desai noted that edible oil imports dropped by 8% in the last six months but warned that global price drops could reverse this trend. He also raised concerns about mustard crop estimates and recommended releasing government-held stock to ease prices. Kevin Roepke of the U.S. Soybean Export Council pointed out that no country can be entirely self-reliant and called for open, fair trade to keep the global supply stable.

Source: The Economic Times