Prices of essential commodities will be kept under check: Food Minister

The Union government would take all possible steps to keep prices of essential commodities such as rice, wheat, sugar and pulses under check even if output was impacted by poor monsoon, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Wednesday. He was addressing a briefing on the completion of 100 days of the Narendra Modi-led government.

On the sugarcane price crisis in Uttar Pradesh, Paswan said the Centre wouldn't intervene anymore, adding it had authorised the state government to take any action against millers to ensure payment to farmers.

On onions, Consumer Affairs Secretary Keshav Desiraju said based on the inputs from the Agriculture Ministry that has estimated a drop in early kharif onion crop due to 15-20 per cent deficit in rain.

Highlighting the measures taken to check prices so far, Paswan said that potato and onion were brought under the ambit of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and states were authorized to impose stock limits on them to check hoarding.

Telangana and West Bengal have already imposed stock limits, he said. He also ruled out any immediate hike in import duty of edible oil.

On the sugar crisis in Uttar Pradesh, Paswan said the Centre won't intervene anymore and it has authorised the state government to take any action against millers to ensure payment to farmers.

On Food Security Act, the minister said some states are facing problems and have sought up to one more year to put in place the system.

As of now, 11 states have implemented and no more state has come forward to implement the law after the Centre gave three-months extension on July 4 to roll out the scheme, he said.

Asked about ministry's view on allowing FDI in multibrand retail, Desiraju said: "The consumer affairs ministry has always been interested in what is the interest of consumers. It is likely if FDI results in wider choice, better quality and more products available, it is something that we will support."

"However, this is all government decision on which Department of Consumer Affairs does not have any single point of view," he added.

The Minister said that the government has decided to amend the Bureau of Indian Standards Act for expanding mandatory standards certification from existing 102 products and services to 2,300 items.

Asked if BIS is equipped to certify these many items, Consumer Affairs Secretary Keshav Desiraju said. "You are right. We are looking at the possibility of self-certification."