India Edible Oil Players Oppose Advisory Banning Re-Use of Tin Containers

In a related development, still from India, trade body Saurashtra Oil Mills Association (SOMA) has opposed the Consumer Affairs Ministry’s advisory to States banning re-use of tin and plastic containers for edible oil sale, according to a news report in The Hindu on July 06.  In a letter to Nitin Patel, Deputy Chief Minister, Gujarat, Sameer Shah, President, SOMA, said, “This is an impractical decision. This will push up the cost of new tin containers due to sudden spurt in demand against its supply as there are only three-four tinplate manufacturers in the country.”  He added that the rule has existed for more than three decades but was never implemented because of its impracticality.

In the letter dated July 6, Shah explained that usually the consumer packs of premium edible oils such as groundnut oil, mustard oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, among others, were available only in new containers.  “Only the bulk consumers of cottonseed oil, palmolein re-use the containers. But these containers are made with special coating under specific guidelines, hence there are negligible chances of hazardous materials in contact with the oils,” Shah said. He expressed fears that the implementation of the rule will escalate the cost of existing tin containers from  ₹70 per unit to  ₹100 due to probable shortage. 

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Government of India, had issued an advisory on July 2, 2020 asking all States to ensure strict compliance with Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011, wherein the re-use of tin and plastic containers for edible oils and fats is restricted.  On the other hand, edible oil crushers body, Solvent Extractors Association of India had recently appreciated the move by the Centre and pitched for strict enforcement of restrictions on sale of loose edible oils and re-use of tin and plastic containers to ensure quality.