The Central Government has introduced significant new regulations for India’s vegetable oil industry, making registration mandatory for all entities involved in the production, stocking, and sale of vegetable oil products. The move, aimed at enhancing transparency and strengthening regulatory oversight, was formalized through the “Vegetable Oil Products Production and Availability (Regulation) Amendment Order, 2025,” issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Under the amended order, any producer intending to manufacture, stock for sale, or offer for sale any vegetable oil, vegetable oil product, or solvent-extracted oil must apply to the Director of the Directorate of Sugar and Vegetable Oils and secure a registration certificate. This measure, which comes into force immediately, supersedes the previous regulations from 2011 and establishes a more stringent, unified framework for the entire sector.
The new regulations also grant the government stronger enforcement capabilities. Producers are now required to furnish detailed monthly returns by the 15th of each month, disclosing information on raw materials used, production volumes, sales, imports, exports, and stock levels.
Furthermore, the Directorate and its appointed officers have been empowered to conduct inspections of any premises, scrutinize records, and even seize stocks of vegetable oil products if there is reason to believe that the actual production or sale figures do not align with the data filed with the government.
The amendments also harmonize key definitions with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Collection of Statistics Act, 2008, signaling a concerted effort to streamline compliance and improve data collection. Industry analysts suggest these measures will bring greater discipline to the sector and help the government better manage the supply and pricing of this essential commodity.
