To control prices of essential commodities, Centre imposes stock limits on pulses

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 2

In an effort to control prices of essential commodities like pulses, the Centre on Friday issued an order to impose stock limits on pulses applicable to wholesalers, retailers, millers and importers. 

The Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2021 has been issued with immediate effect from today July 2, according to a statement issued by the Centre.

Under this order, stock limits have been prescribed for all pulses except Moong until October 31 for all states/UTs. 

Stock limit will be 200 MT (provided there should not be more than 100 MT of one variety) for wholesalers, 5 MT for retailers, according to the statement.

For importers, the stock limit will be the same as that of wholesaler for stocks held/imported prior to May 15 and for stocks imported after that stock limit applicable on wholesalers will apply after 45 days from date of customs clearance.

It has also been stated that if the stocks of entities exceed the prescribed limits, they have to be declared on the online portal of Department of Consumer Affairs and have to be brought within the prescribed limit within 30 days of the notification of this order.

As a result of a series of consistent actions, a declining trend in the prices of pulses and edible oils is being witnessed, the Centre said.

Parallelly, to enhance the domestic availability and smoothen the inflow of pulses import, changes have been made in import policy by shifting Tur, Urad and Moong from restricted category to free category for the period from May 15 to October 31. 

Additionally, 5-year MoUs have been signed with Myanmar for annual import of 2.5 LMT of Urad and 1 LMT of Tur, with Malawi for annual import of 1 LMT of Tur, and MoU 31 with Mozambique for annual import of 2 LMT Tur has been extended by another 5 years.

These MoUs will ensure predictability in the quantity of pulses being produced abroad and exported to India, thus benefiting both India and the pulse exporting country.

Moreover, to soften the prices of edible oils, a mechanism has been institutionalised involving nodal offices of the Customs department, FSSAI, Plant Quarantine division to monitor the speedy clearance of food commodities like Crude Palm Oil (CPO) at shipping ports. Also, to protect the interest of consumers, the duty of CPO has been cut by 5% from 30th June 2021 until 30th September 2021.

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