Move on oil sale poses challenges

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India bans sale of coconut oil in loose form.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has banned the sale of coconut oil in loose form after complaints of adulteration came up before it. Sale of coconut oil will be permitted only in packaged form, conforming to standards set by the authority. The decision is bound to have an impact in the edible oil market.

The new move could hit daily wage earners and the marginal sections of society who depend on a meagre income and do not purchase commodities and store them. In fact, the loose sale of oil caters to such people. The adherence to the new directive will put them at the receiving end unless steps are taken to provide the packaged form of edible oil to them at affordable rates.

With the steep rise in prices of copra and coconut oil, the arrival of the commodity from Tamil Nadu had been under monitoring. Coconut oil was traded in Ernakulam at Rs.15,700 per quintal on Friday, almost double the rates which the commodity had been sold a year ago. Adulteration had been established on a few occasions at the checkposts and some consignments were sent back after the samples reportedly failed the standard tests prescribed by the authority.

With no signs of the prices falling down, the market will continue to face strain from inadequate availability and a tendency for sale of the commodity in non-packaged form. It will be a hard task for the authorities to find out the violations. On the other hand, the FSSAI move would send a clear message to the sellers who indulge in adulteration.

Cochin Oil Merchants Association Director Talat Mahmood said the move was taken in right earnest to prevent sale of adulterated commodity. Though the commodity coming from neighbouring States is being subjected to checks, ensuring that the commodity on sale within the State is free of adulterants will be a gigantic task. Adulteration can happen within Kerala, Mr. Mahmood points out.