The Indian government will soon release a new regulation to improve how the country tracks and manages edible oils. This new rule, called the 2025 Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (VOPPA) Regulation Order, will be announced next week, according to Food Secretary Sanjeev Chopra.
What’s Changing?
This new regulation will replace the older rules from 2011. It will:
- Require digital reporting of edible oil production, prices, sales, and stock levels.
- Help the government monitor the market in real time.
- Make it easier to track prices and availability of oils like mustard, sunflower, and soybean.
Currently, the government relies on data from industry groups, which isn’t always timely or accurate. The new system aims to fix that.
Why This Is Important
Mr. Chopra said that this move will make the edible oil market more transparent and ensure better compliance with rules. It will also help industries and the government make data-based decisions.
Import Duty and Prices
When asked about edible oil prices, Chopra said the government had already reduced import duties on crude oils to keep prices low. He also said that market inspections are being carried out to make sure companies pass on the benefit of lower import taxes to customers.
Even though food inflation has gone down overall, edible oil prices are still high, especially for mustard oil. To manage prices, the government has a buffer stock of 7 lakh tonnes of mustard seeds, which can be released if needed.
Read more: Karnataka Vegetable Vendor Gets ₹29 Lakh GST Notice Due to UPI Transactions…
Domestic Production Challenges
Chopra admitted that India is still not self-sufficient in producing oilseeds like soybean, sunflower, and mustard. Our crop yields are much lower than other countries, and improving them will need better seeds, more research, and modern farming methods.
The government is trying to improve local production through programs like:
- Pradhan Mantri Dhan-Dhaanya Krishi Yojana
- National Mission on Edible Oils-Oilseeds
Industry Opinions
At a global event by the Indian Vegetable Oil Producers’ Association (IVPA), industry experts said:
- The US is ready to export more soybean oil to India.
- India’s edible oil imports have gone down by 8% in the last six months but may rise again due to falling global prices.
- Mustard oil prices remain strong because of crop concerns, and the government may release some of its stock to stabilize prices.
IVPA President Sudhakar Desai and other business leaders stressed the need for data-based discussions to handle price swings and supply-demand issues in the global oil market.
Also See:Â Kharif Crop Area Up by 4.1% This Year, Food Inflation May Ease
