Lack of adequate edible oils’ testing facilities ‘unfortunate’: Punjab and Haryana High Court
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has expressed concern over the lack of accessible testing facilities for adulteration in edible oils, highlighting that the nearest laboratory is located 1,500 km away in Nagpur. The court instructed the Additional Solicitor-General to clarify the central government’s policy on laboratory facilities and whether there are plans to establish more testing labs across the country. This comes in response to widespread complaints regarding the blending of mustard oil with other oils
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has described as “unfortunate” that the nearest laboratory equipped to conduct tests for adulteration is located approximately 1,500 km away in Nagpur despite large-scale consumption of edible oils across the country.
The bench instructed the Additional Solicitor-General of India Satya Pal Jain to ascertain the central government’s policy on laboratory facilities and clarify whether there were proposals to establish additional testing laboratories across the country. The court further sought explanations on the absence of such proposals if no plans existed.
Expressing concern over the lack of accessible testing facilities, the division bench Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal in its detailed order asked Jain “to find out what is the central government’s policy and whether there is proposal for opening other laboratories across the country, and if not then why”.
The direction came after Jain informed the bench that the nearest laboratory for the purpose was Central Agmark Laboratory at Nagpur. “This court will deal with this aspect at any subsequent hearing”, the court added. It also directed the Registrar-General to immediately send samples of mustard oil brands to Central Agmark Laboratory in Nagpur for “conducting the test for other miscible oil”.
Taking cognisance of a “large number of complaints” on blending of mustard oil with other oils, the bench had earlier directed the testing of three popular brands. In its directive aimed at curbing mustard oil adulteration, the bench had also directed the placing of the laboratory report before the court
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Source : The Tribune
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