Vegetable oil producers will have to furnish monthly information of stock, sale

NEW DELHI: Now, all vegetable oil producers and processors will have to furnish monthly details of arrival of raw materials, production, import, sale, export and stock in hand to the food ministry, a move that will help the govt get real-time updates on availability rather than depending on data from their associations.

The ministry has amended the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Regulation Order of 2011 by notifying fresh changes. Industry sources said India has over 15,000 oil mills and more than 250 vanaspati manufacturing units. Most of them are in the small-scale sector.

The new order focuses on enhanced monitoring of edible oil imports, production, stocks and sales through digital tools. Recently, speaking on the sidelines of an industry event, food secretary Sanjeev Chopra had said now they are groping in dark because they are dependent on associations for data.

He had also said under the new framework, the govt will track production, pricing and availability in real-time, providing critical data to industry stakeholders, while improving compliance, market monitoring and product integrity.

As per the new notification, issued on Friday, a producer who intends to produce, stock for sale or offer for sale of vegetable oil, vegetable oil products or solvent extracted oil will need to apply for registration. The director of directorate of sugar and vegetable oils or any person appointed for it can inspect any premises.