Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to go easy while implementing its directives on the sale of loose edible oil, stressing that action against adulteration should not come at the cost of traditional oil traders and small retailers.
Fadnavis said the FDA would be asked to frame a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to tackle adulteration while ensuring that the new directives do not adversely affect the businesses of traditional oil traders.
The Chief Minister’s intervention came after concerns were raised in the state Cabinet over the impact of the FDA’s stringent action on small traders and consumers, particularly those who buy edible oil in small quantities.
Fadnavis said the government’s objective was to maintain food quality and safety, but the implementation needed to take into account the interests of traders and poorer consumers.
The FDA, headed by Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, had recently announced stringent action against the sale of loose or unsealed edible oil, citing concerns over adulteration, unsafe packaging and difficulties in tracing the source of the product.
The Chief Minister’s remarks signal a softer approach to enforcement, with the government seeking to balance strict action against food adulteration with the need to protect small businesses and consumers from the immediate impact of the directives.
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