Delhi Govt to lift ban on mustard oil sale

NEW DELHI, Sept 19: The Delhi Government has decided to lift the ban on the sale of packed mustard oil from September 23 in the Capital, ...

NEW DELHI, Sept 19: The Delhi Government has decided to lift the ban on the sale of packed mustard oil from September 23 in the Capital, Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma said here today.

Verma said the decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting this afternoon and added that the ban on the sale of loose mustard oil would continue. The Chief Minister said all packets and containers of mustard oil would have to display the date of packaging and registration number prominently.

The Chief Minister said besides the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Department, four other agencies have been authorised to test the stock of mustard oil seized from traders and clear it for packaging, if found fit. The CM said Regional Agmark Laboratory (RAL), Ganesh Scientific Research Foundation (GSRF), Food Research and Analysis Centre (FRAC) and Shriram Institute for Industrial Research (SIIR) have been authorised to assist the PFA Department to test the “seized and unsold” oil stocks.

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The government had decided to lift theban on packed mustard oil considering the difficulties being faced by the consumers. The government would strictly monitor the situation, he said, adding officials concerned and testing agencies had been warned that they would he held responsible for any future mishap.

The State government had initially banned sale of selective brands of mustard on August 25 following report of some deaths due to dropsy caused by the consumption of adulterated mustard oil. The ban was subsequently extended to all brands of both loose and packed mustard oil on august 26.Dropsy has taken a toll of 60 people so far and affected over 2000 in the Capital.