Centre Imposes Stock Limits On Tur And Urad Dal

The central government on Friday issued an order and imposed stock limits on the pulses applicable to wholesalers, retailers, big chain retailers, millers and importers.

The removal of licensing requirements, stock limits and movement restrictions on specified foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2023 has been issued with immediate effect from 2 June 2023.

Under this order, stock limits have been prescribed for tur and urad until 31 October 2023 for all states and union territories.

Stock limits applicable to each of the pulse individually will be 200 MT for wholesalers; 5 MT for retailers; 5 MT at each retail outlet and 200 MT at the depot for big chain retailers; last 3 months of production or 25 per cent of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher, for the millers.

In respect of importers, the importers are not to hold imported stock beyond 30 days from the date of customs clearance.

The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in a statement said that the imposition of stock limits on tur and urad is another step in the consistent efforts taken by the government to crack down on prices of essential commodities. 

"The Department of Consumer Affairs had been closely monitoring the stock position of tur and urad through the stock disclosure portal which has been reviewed on a weekly basis with the State Government," it added.

The ministry added that extensive interactions with various stakeholders such as importers, millers, and retailers had been held to ensure disclosure of stocks, including visits by senior officers to the states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu to assess the ground situation.