Notification seeks to amend Vegetable Oil Products Production and Availability (Regulation) Order, 2011 issued under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

• It aims to enhance transparency, prevent supply disruptions, and ensure fair prices for consumers in India's edible oil industry. It also seeks to bring accountability and stabilize edible oil supplies.

Edible Oil Scenario in India

• India is heavily dependent on imports to meet its edible oil requirements and is the world’s largest importer of vegetable oils, followed by China and the USA.
  • Palm oil dominates imports, accounting for 59%, followed by soybean (23%) and sunflower (16%)
  • Import dependence on edible oils decreased from 63.2% in 2015-16 to 54.9% in 2021-22.
• Major Edible oil crops in India (9): Groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, safflower, Nigerseed, castor and linseed.
• Among 9 major oilseeds, soybean (34%), rapeseed & mustard (31%) and groundnut (27%) contribute to more than 92% of total oilseeds production in the country.

Reasons for high import dependence

• Almost 72% of the total oilseeds area is confined to rainfed farming cultivated mostly by marginal and small farmers. 
• Lack of appropriate technologies, cultivation under input-starved conditions, etc., are some of the major causes for poor productivity of Oilseeds.