NATIONAL President of the All India Edible Oil Traders Federation and General Secretaryof theConfederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Shankar Thakkar on Sunday said that the Government should allow reuse of tin containers forpackaging edibleoil highlighting that the used tin containers do not pose any healthhazardsif they areproperly cleaned. Thakkar said this while interacting with a group of media persons. He was in the city to take part in the Oil Millers Conclave 2024 held here in the city. It is important to note that the Food Safety and Standards Authority ofIndia (FSSAI) prohibits the reuse of tin containers due to its potential health haza rds. How ever, Thakkar said the used containers are safe. “Apart from this, reuse of tin containers brings down the costof edibleoil.Further,plastic, which is seen as an alternative option for packing edible oil, is harmful on various fronts,” he pointed out. The cost of a fresh tin container is about Rs 120 while reused one is available at a price of Rs 25.

 

Further,Thakkersaid thepolicy makers should not allow blendingofedibleoils.“In India we do not have a proper system tomeasure theexactquantity of blended oils. This decision is helping only the big playersandmultinationalcompanies while traditional and small oil extractors are facing hardship due toit.Wewant the decision to be withdrawn in the larger interest of the society,” he said. Asper theFSSAI regulations, blending of two edible oils is permitted, provided the proportion by weight of any ediblevegetable oilusedis atleast 20 per cent. Thakker also highlighted the All India Edible Oil Traders Federation’s demands for protectingtheinterestsofsmalland traditional extractors.“Inmany places in the country, these smalloil extractorsdonothave the facilities oflaboratories for testing theirproducts.Wewant theGovernment tocreate these facilities for them rather than preventing them from selling oil in loose form,” he said.