VOPPA Order 2025: A tool to ensure fair practice
The government has amended the VOPPA Order 2011 to strengthen food safety and curb edible oil adulteration. The move aims to improve transparency in production, imports and stock data, reduce market manipulation, and protect consumers amid rising demand and frequent reports of oil blending and unsafe practices across the sector.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, has amended the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011 (VOPPA Order) or better known as VOPPA Order 2025, to prevent enhance food safety.
India is the largest consumer and importer of edible oils, which consist of palm, mustard, soybean, sunflower, rice bran, groundnut, and coconut, among others. While palm oil is mostly imported from Indonesia and Malaysia, soybeans are imported from Argentina and Brazil. Sunflower oil is imported from Ukraine and Russia. Mustard, groundnut, sesame, and other seeds are mostly grown in India.
According to a report in PIB titled ‘Pathways and Strategies for Accelerating Growth in Edible Oils Towards the Goal of Atmanirbharta,’ over the past decades, per capita consumption of edible oil in the country has seen a dramatic rise, reaching 19.7 kg/year. This surge in demand has significantly outpaced domestic production, leading to a heavy reliance on imports to meet both domestic and industrial needs.
Any fluctuation in its price directly impacts household budgets, particularly those of the poor and middle class.
Amidst all the talks to enhance production, a rising demand, there has been reports of edible oil adulteration and blending in India. A significant and ongoing concern that poses serious health risks and economic fraud issues.
Reports on the Food Safety and Drug Administration conducting raids at Gayatri Oil Industry in Fazalgang near Kanpur, seizing approximately 35,727 litres of edible oil worth Rs 53 lakhs due to suspicious samples, is nothing new.
The Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, to tackle the menace, has notified a key amendment to the Vegetable Oil Products, Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011 (VOPPA Order).
It can be noted that the edible world sector has suffered from the absence of real time and reliable data on production, imports and stock positions. The lack of visibility often leads to price volatility, holding and market speculation.
To Read more about Edible Oil News continue reading Agriinsite.com
Source : Foods Spectrum
