Latest news with #DepartmentofFoodandPublicDistribution
Business Standard
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Regulatory enhancement to offer improved visibility on domestic production, imports, and stock levels of edible oils
The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) has notified an amendment to the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011 (VOPPA Regulation Order, 2011), to boost Edible Oil Data Compliance. Originally issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the order was framed following the repeal of earlier regulations by the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The amendment seeks to align the order with institutional changes brought about by the 2014 merger of two key directorates and to strengthen data collection mechanisms in the edible oil sector through the incorporation of provisions under the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008. This regulatory enhancement is designed to benefit both consumers and stakeholders across the edible oil value chain. With improved visibility on domestic production, imports, and stock levels, the Government will be equipped to undertake timely policy interventions-such as adjusting import duties or facilitating imports-to correct supply-demand imbalances. This will contribute to stabilizing retail prices and improving the availability of edible oils nationwide. The amendment enhances transparency, facilitates better market intelligence, and supports evidence-based policymaking. It enables closer monitoring of production and stock positions, ensuring consistent availability of edible oils and supporting the Government's national food security objectives. Stakeholder consultations were held with key bodies, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Department of Animal Husbandry, and various edible oil industry associations. Industry associations have expressed strong support for the initiative and are encouraging their members to register through the National Single Window System (NSWS) and submit monthly returns via the official VOPPA portal.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Rs 4,31,138 Crore: How Govt Achieved The Big Savings Figure From Direct Benefit Transfer
Last Updated: DBT has been showcased by the government as a zero-leakage mechanism in which every penny directly reaches the bank account of a beneficiary without any cut or middlemen Rs. 4,31,138.05 crore—that is the latest estimate of the cumulative savings that the Narendra Modi government has made due to the nation-wide roll out of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Parliament was informed of the same on Monday. 'The implementation of DBT and other governance reforms has led to the removal of duplicate and fake beneficiaries, and the plugging of leakages. As a result, the government has been able to better target genuine and deserving beneficiaries. These measures have resulted in estimated savings/benefits amounting to Rs. 4,31,138.05 crore (up to FY 2023-24)," the government said in a Parliament reply. It also said that a record amount of Rs 36,65,57 crore had been sent to beneficiaries under various schemes through DBT in 2024-25. This has been showcased by the government as a zero-leakage mechanism in which every penny directly reaches the bank account of a beneficiary without any cut or middlemen. How were these savings achieved? The government's official figures on the Rs 4,31,138 crore savings include the highest amount of Rs 2,49.972 from savings under the Public Distribution System of the Department of Food and Public Distribution. That comprises of more than 50 per cent of the total savings as government has deleted 5.87 crore duplicate and fake/non-existent ration cards. The next highest savings are under the PAHAL scheme of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas—which are pegged at Rs 2,49,972.53. This is due to elimination of 4.23 crore duplicate, fake/non-existent, inactive LPG connections. In addition, number of non-subsidised LPG consumers is 2.38 crore. 'The aforesaid numbers (4.23 crore + 2.38 crore) include 1.15 crore 'Give-it-Up' consumers," the latest government data says. Deletion of 1.26 crore fake and duplicate Job Cards under the MGNREGS of Ministry of Rural Development also resulted in savings of Rs 58,058.98 till March 2024. Similarly, deletion of 2.1 crore ineligible beneficiaries under the PM Kisan Scheme have brought about savings to the tune of Rs 22,106 crore, says the government. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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Business Standard
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Landed prices of imported edible oils move up despite halving of duty
While exporters have raised prices to nullify duty cuts, concerns over the Israel-Iran conflict, and the expected global diversion of additional vegetable oil for biofuel blending schemes are factors New Delhi Listen to This Article The landed price of major edible oils has risen by 3-5 per cent during the week ended June 20 as compared to the previous week that ended in June 13, data from industry bodies show. The upward movement is despite India lowering import duties on crude oils by 10 percentage points, a 50 percent reduction, last month to ease inflationary pressures and to ensure steady supplies. In fact, consumer price index-based inflation (combined) for most edible oils has remained stubbornly high since January 2025 despite overall food inflation coming down, prompting the Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD) to
India.com
19-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
Will Ensure That Edible Oil Price Reduction Reaches Consumers: Centre
New Delhi: The government has said that it will continue to closely monitor and conduct periodic reviews to ensure that the benefits of lower import duties on edible oil translate effectively into lower consumer prices across the country. Any anomalies or delays in passing on the price benefits will be addressed through appropriate regulatory actions, according to Department of Food and Public Distribution (DoFPD), which has conducted a series of comprehensive inspection visits to key edible oil refining and processing facilities across the country. The inspections, which were carried out over the past few days, covered major port-based edible oil refineries and inland processing plants that import Crude Palm Oil (CPO), Crude Soybean Oil, and Crude Sunflower Oil. Some of the major industries were visited, the specific States include: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, where maximum edible oil processing facilities are situated. 'These inspections were aimed at reviewing the impact of recent duty reductions on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and the Price to Distributor (PTD) of refined edible oils such as Refined Sunflower Oil, Refined Soybean Oil, and RBD Palmolein,' according to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs. A majority of the inspected units have already reduced both MRP and PTD in response to the reduction in landed cost of imported crude edible oils, made possible due to the recent rationalisation of import duties. Several processing units conveyed their commitment to implement further reductions in prices in the next few days, as they continue to receive lower-cost shipments of crude oils under the revised duty structure. The initiative has helped stabilise prices in the edible oil market, and early signs suggest that the benefits are gradually reaching end consumers through lower retail prices. In recent months, the government has taken several policy measures to curb inflationary trends in edible oil prices. A major step included reducing the import duty on various crude edible oils to lower the overall landed cost. The Centre has reduced the basic customs duty on crude edible oils, including crude sunflower, soybean, and palm oils, from 20 per cent to 10 per cent to bring down prices in the local market.
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Govt asks edible oil industry to pass on duty cut benefits to consumers
HighlightsThe Indian food ministry has mandated that edible oil industry associations immediately pass on the reduction in customs duties on crude oils to consumers, in response to rising food inflation. The Basic Customs Duty on crude edible oils, such as crude sunflower, soybean, and palm oils, has been halved from 20 percent to 10 percent to alleviate the impact of sharp price increases on consumers. Industry stakeholders are required to adjust their Price to Distributors and Maximum Retail Price in accordance with lower landed costs and provide weekly updates on reduced pricing to the Department of Food and Public Distribution. The food ministry has ordered edible oil industry associations to immediately pass on import duty reductions to consumers, following a government decision to halve customs duties on crude oils amid soaring food inflation . A meeting with leading edible oil industry associations and industry stakeholders was held under the chairmanship of Secretary, Department of Food and Public Distribution, where an advisory was issued directing them to pass on the benefits from the duty reduction to consumers. Industry stakeholders are expected to adjust their Price to Distributors (PTD) and Maximum Retail Price (MRP) in accordance with lower landed costs with immediate effect, the department said in a statement. Associations have been requested to advise their members to implement immediate price reductions and share updated brand-wise MRP sheets with the department on a weekly basis. The ministry shared a format with the edible oil industry for reporting reduced MRP and PTD data, emphasising that "timely transmission of benefits through the supply chain is imperative to ensure consumers experience corresponding decreases in retail prices". The decision came after a detailed review of the sharp rise in edible oil prices following last year's duty hike. The increase led to significant inflationary pressure on consumers, with retail edible oil prices soaring and contributing to rising food inflation. The Centre has reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on crude edible oils -- crude sunflower, soybean, and palm oils -- from 20 per cent to 10 per cent, resulting in the import duty differential between crude and refined edible oils increasing from 8.75 per cent to 19.25 per cent. This adjustment aims to address the escalating edible oil prices resulting from the September 2024 duty hike and concurrent increases in international market prices. The 19.25 per cent duty differential between crude and refined oils will help encourage domestic refining capacity utilisation and reduce imports of refined oils, officials said. Import duty on edible oils is one of the important factors that impacts landed cost of edible oils and thereby domestic prices. By lowering the import duty on crude oils, the government aims to reduce the landed cost and retail prices.
