PUNE: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) will ensure strict
implementation of the ban on the sale of edible oil in loose form across
the city and adjoining districts from Thursday.
Almost 45% of the city's population purchases oil in loose form, sale of which is banned as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
"The ban on selling edible oil in loose form will henceforth be enforced in letter and spirit. Our officials will start inspecting shops and firms selling edible oil in loose form," Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune, told TOI on Wednesday.
The officials will fine shops registered with the FDA Rs 25,000 if found selling oil in loose form. If shops/firms having an FDA licence are found indulging in such sale, they will have to pay a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh.
The oil should not only be sold in packets, but must also have proper labelling and information about its package date, type of oil, price, etc, according to the act.
Most shops in and around slums sell oil in loose form. "So we are going to focus on those pockets in city where this practice is rampant. The aim is to enforce the ban across the division," Kekare said.
Currently, 80% of edible oil is sold in loose form in the country, which, according to trade sources, is in the blended form. For example, refined sunflower oil or soybean oil in loose form is a blend of the respective oil and palm oil in the proportion of 65:35.
According to experts, such impurities are difficult to for a layman to identify, as the blending of palm oil does not change the physical property or taste of the product. But it changes the chemical property, which affects the consumers' health in the long run. Selling of loose edible oil is not permitted in developed countries.
What the Act says
No person shall sell or distribute or offer for sale or dispatch to any person for the purpose of sale any edible/vegetable oil
a) which does not conform to the standards of quality as provided in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and rules/regulations made under, and
b) which is not packed in a container, marked and labelled in the manner as specified in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) regulations
Almost 45% of the city's population purchases oil in loose form, sale of which is banned as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
"The ban on selling edible oil in loose form will henceforth be enforced in letter and spirit. Our officials will start inspecting shops and firms selling edible oil in loose form," Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune, told TOI on Wednesday.
The officials will fine shops registered with the FDA Rs 25,000 if found selling oil in loose form. If shops/firms having an FDA licence are found indulging in such sale, they will have to pay a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh.
The oil should not only be sold in packets, but must also have proper labelling and information about its package date, type of oil, price, etc, according to the act.
Most shops in and around slums sell oil in loose form. "So we are going to focus on those pockets in city where this practice is rampant. The aim is to enforce the ban across the division," Kekare said.
Currently, 80% of edible oil is sold in loose form in the country, which, according to trade sources, is in the blended form. For example, refined sunflower oil or soybean oil in loose form is a blend of the respective oil and palm oil in the proportion of 65:35.
According to experts, such impurities are difficult to for a layman to identify, as the blending of palm oil does not change the physical property or taste of the product. But it changes the chemical property, which affects the consumers' health in the long run. Selling of loose edible oil is not permitted in developed countries.
What the Act says
No person shall sell or distribute or offer for sale or dispatch to any person for the purpose of sale any edible/vegetable oil
a) which does not conform to the standards of quality as provided in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and rules/regulations made under, and
b) which is not packed in a container, marked and labelled in the manner as specified in the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India's (FSSAI) regulations
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