Archive · 21 Aug 2026
Maharashtra FDA Tightens Rules On Loose Oil, Reuse
Maharashtra’s food safety department has introduced stricter rules for cooking oil.
Shops and businesses can no longer sell loose or unpackaged edible oil.
Oil must be sealed and clearly labelled so its source can be traced.
Restaurants and hotels must not keep using oil after it becomes too degraded.
Oil with more than 25% Total Polar Compounds must be removed from cooking and given to approved collectors.
Used oil must not be sold back into the food chain.
The rules also ban reusing rusty cans or containers that held chemicals.
Businesses may face large fines, licence action and imprisonment for breaking the rules.
The FDA says the measures are intended to reduce adulteration and protect public health.
Maharashtra’s FDA issued a 14-point statewide order covering the edible-oil supply chain.
Loose or unpackaged edible oil must be sold only in sealed, tamper-evident and labelled packages.
Cooking oil exceeding 25% Total Polar Compounds cannot be used and must go to authorised RUCO collectors.
The order bans refilling oil into used, rusty or chemically contaminated containers and restricts unsafe transport practices.
Of 1,247 samples tested in 2025-26, 1,142 met standards, while 77 were substandard, 13 unsafe and 15 misbranded.
- Who
- The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration, led by Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
- What
- A 14-point statewide enforcement order restricting loose oil sales, repeated cooking-oil use and unsafe packaging.
- When
- The order was reported on August 20, 2026; the cited testing data covers 2025-26.
- Where
- Across Maharashtra.
- Why
- To curb adulteration, prevent used oil from re-entering the food chain and protect public health.
- Issuing authority
- Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration
- Order
- 14-point statewide compliance and enforcement order
- Loose-oil rule
- Loose or unpackaged edible oil is prohibited; oil must be sold in sealed, tamper-evident and properly labelled packages.
- TPC limits
- Fresh oil should not exceed 15% Total Polar Compounds; oil above 25% cannot be used.
- Testing results
- Of 1,247 samples tested in 2025-26, 1,142 conformed, 77 were substandard, 13 unsafe and 15 misbranded.
- Penalties
- Violations can bring fines of up to Rs 10 lakh, imprisonment, and suspension or cancellation of licences.
- Covered oils
- The order covers oils and fats including groundnut, mustard, soybean, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, rice bran, palm, coconut, sesame, maize and vanaspati.
