The Centre may consider the lifting of export ban on edible oils this week. A joint delegation from the vegetable oil industry met Kamal Nath and the senior officials of commerce and industry ministry last week.
The government had decided to ban the export of all edible oils for a period of one year, effective from March 17, 2008 with a view to improve domestic supplies of edible oils in the country.
“Last two days, we met with government officials in New Delhi to follow up for lifting up ban on exports of castor oil and edible oils and fats. We had a series of meetings including with Kamal Nath, commerce minister, GK Pillai, secretary and other key officials in the ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution to pursue these matters,” Ashok Sethia, president of the Solvent Extractors’ Association (SEA) said.
On the exports of castor oil, Kamal Nath has assured and directed DGFT to issue a clarification that castor oil (non edible grade) is freely exportable.
“I hope the clarification will be issued by DGFT on Tuesday. Similarly, the ban on exports of fats of tree borne oilseeds like sal fat, mango fat and kokum fat will be lifted very soon,” Sethia said. The minister assured them that the matter regarding lifting up of ban on fats and edible oils including rice bran oil would be taken up during the Economic Group of Ministers’ meeting scheduled to be held on 2nd April for appropriate decisions.
India exports about 10,000 tonne fats of Tree Borne Oilseeds (TBO) per annum as value added products, which greatly supports the tribals to receive better price for their collection of seeds and improve their livelihood.