Lok Sabha Question No. 3407 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-23
Subject: Imports of Edible Oils
Ministry: CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
Asked by: Jagdambika Pal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MtNtsTRy OF CONSUMER  AFFAIRS,  FOOD &  puBLIC  DTSTRIBUTTON DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND PUBLIC DTSTRIBUTION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.34O7

## TO BE ANSWERED  ON 23RD MARCH,2022

## IMPORTS OF EDIBLE OILS

## 3407. SHRI JAGDAMBIKA  PAL:

Will the Minister of GONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND  pUBLtc DlsrRIBUTrol{  sqfrs,  qr,It,qrq*rtrrffidG-d$rrtff be preased  to state:

- (a) the details of import of edible oils from Ukraine and Russia;
- (b)  whether  the recent instability between Ukraine and Russia has caused any problems in terms of impoil of edible oits and if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken in this regard;
- (c)  the steps taken by the Government to increase the domestic production  of edibte oils and make lndia atmanirbhar  in terms of edible oils; and
- (d)  the steps taken by the Government to tower the rising prices of edible oils in the country/?

ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY  OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND coNsuMER AFFAIRS, FOOD &  puBl.tc  DISTRTBUTTON (sADHVt NIRA]{JAN JYOTr}

- (a): The details of import of edibte oits from Russia and Ukraine during the last three years is given  below:

| Year (April-ilarch)   | lmport of edibte oils from Ukraine (in LMT)   | lmports of edible oils from Russia (in LMT)   |
|-----------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| 2018-19               | 24.A7                                         | o.46                                          |
| 2019-20               | 19.77                                         | 3.81                                          |
| 2020-21               | 17.44                                         | 3.48                                          |

Source:  Departmenrt of Gommerce

- (b): The impoft of edibre oirs is under open Generar Licence (oGL). The private industry imports the required quantities  from abroad. Government has held meetings with private industry/edibte oi!  associations  for facilitating  imports.
- (c):  The Govemment  of  tndia has been  imptementing a  Centrally sponsored scheme, National Food security Mission- oilseeds & oit palm (ilFsM'os&oP) from 20{8-{9 to augment the avaitabitity of vegetabte oits and to reduce the import of edihle oits by increasing the production  and productivity  of oilseeds and area expansion  of oil  palm  & Tree Borne Oilseeds  in the country.

Now, the Government has launched a separate Mission for Oi!  palm, which is the National Mission for Edibto Oils (Oat  patm)-  NMEO (Op) to promote oil palm cultivation  for making the country Atmanirbhar  in edible oils with special focus on North-Eastern  states and Andaman and Nicobar lslands.

- (d):  In order to inrprove the domestic avaitabitity and to keep prices of edible oils under control,  the Government  has been rationalizing the duty structure on edible oils during 2021-22 to reduce the prace burden of common man. The following measures  have been taken:
- ln a bid to control the rise in cooking oi! pricos,  the Gentral  Government has cut the basic duty on Grude  patm  Oil, Grude Soyabean Oil and Grude Sunflower  Oil from 2.5o/o lo Nil. The Agri-cess  on these Oils has been brought to 5% .
- The basic duty on Refined soyabean oil and Refined sunflower oil has been slashed to 17.5o/o  from the current 32.8o/o and the basic duty on Refined  Palm Oils has been reduced irom 17.io/o to 12.5o/o
- The Government  has extended the free import of Refined  palm  Oits for a period upto 31.12.2022
- The current basic rate of import duty of zero percent  on Grude  palm  Oit, Crude Soyabean  oil and Crude Sunflower  Oil has been extended upto 3oti September, 2O22 and the .rate  of import duty on Refined  patm  Oils at 12,5o/o1 Refined Soyabean oil and Refined Sunflower Oil at 17.5o/o has also been extended up to 3oth Septemb err 2OZ2. a
- To control prices of edible oils, futures trading in mustard oil on NCDEX has been suspended and stock limits have been imposed.

- The Depaftment of Food and  pubrac  Distribution  had imposed  stock timits on Edible oils and oilseeds  w.e.f.  gs (tctober,  2021 lor a period up to 3ld Maschr2022.
- Futther, an amended  order  rrhe Removat  of Licensing Requirements, stock Limats and Movement Restractions  on specified Foodstuffs (Amendment)  Order, 2O22" has been notifierl w.e.f O3d February, 2022 specifying  the quantities  of stock limits of edible oil & oil-seeds  , to be implemented  by alt states/urs.  This order has been issued to ensure the smooth ayaitability  of edible oils and oit-seeds in the country.