According to the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restriction on Sales) Regulations, 2011 “No person shall sell or expose for sell, or distribute, or offer for sale, or dispatch, or deliver to any person for the purpose of sale any edible oil
(a) Which does not conform to the standards of quality as provided in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (34 of 2006) and rules and regulations made thereunder
(b) Which is not packed in a container, marked and labelled in the manner as specified in the said Regulations.
FSSAI is now making an exception as edible oil is not available in smaller packages like sachets and pouches. It is because of this shortcoming that a large number of the small consumers buy loose edible oil which might not have the desired quality. The FSSAI has therefore come up with the innovative idea to make edible oil available through automated, tamper proof vending machines. This will make it possible for the small purchaser to buy quality edible oil and will reduce the sale of unauthorised loose edible oil in the country.
In order to make available quality edible oil for the small purchaser FSSAI has permitted the use of these automated vending machines. The oil in the vending machines will be packed in such a manner that it will prevent any tampering. Those providing edible oil in this manner will have to comply with the provisions of the FSS (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011 as far as labelling and packing are concerned.
Recently the Maharashtra Government permitted the sale of loose edible oil to facilitate the small purchaser as well as the consumers in the villages. However, the quality of loose edible oil is always suspect so the idea of selling edible oil through automated, tamperproof vending machines should proof beneficial in providing even the small purchaser with quality edible oil.
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