Oils, Expeller Mustard Permitted In Vanaspati

Conceding the long-pending demand of the vanaspati industry, the government yesterday allowed the use of indigenous expeller mustard, rapeseed, groundnut and sesame oils in the manufacture of vanaspati.

It has, at the same time, made it compulsory for the manufacturers of vegetable oil products to pack their produce only in containers which carry ISI mark.

The Vegetable Oil Products Control Order, 1947, which had earlier prohibited the industry from using expeller mustard and other domestic oils, has been amended to facilitate the use of these oils. This has been done in view of the comfortable domestic availability. An official note says the economy has reached a level of maturity where the vanaspati industry could be permitted to consume edible oils, depending on the marketing forces. The measure is expected to help improve capacity utilisation.

 

The restriction of using only ISI marked material for containers of edible oils has been reimposed on observing that a considerable quantity of rejects of printed tin-sheets were being used for packaging vegetable oil products.

It is apprehended that the colour used in the printing of tin sheets, which came into contact with the cooking medium, created a serious health hazard, the note points out.