Mustard oil adulteration: High Court orders testing of mustard oil brands, demands report by Nov 13
Mustard oil adulteration: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the testing of three popular oil brands amid complaints about mustard oil adulteration. In its order to combat mustard oil adulteration, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal further asked that the laboratory report be submitted to the court on November 13.
The Bench further asked the High Court Registrar-General to swiftly buy one litre of each of three popular mustard oil brands out of the Chief Justice's contingency fund. The Registry was then ordered to send 500 mL of each of the three brands to the regional 'Agmark' laboratory in Amritsar for testing.
In its detailed decision, the Bench stated that mustard oil testing of at least three different popular brands should be conducted at any of the central laboratories located in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the State of Punjab, or Haryana.
“It appears that the instances of adverse action taken against the defaulters indulging in misbranding, adulteration or blending of mustard oil are perfunctory. Respondents do not appear to be either serious about taking action against the defaulters or the concerned legislation does not have enough teeth," the Bench said.
"Be that as it may, a large number of complaints are being received as regards blending of mustard oil with other oils e.g. refined rice bran oil despite the process of blending having been prohibited under Rule 2.1 of the Food Safety and Standards (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales and Regulations, 2011,” it added.
The Bench also stated that the testing had to be completed within 15 days of submitting the report to the court in a sealed cover "specifically pointing out whether the mustard oil is mixed with some other oil or not and the percentage thereof".
Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor-General of India, assisted the high court in this matter, with counsel Anil Chawla representing the Union of India. Rajesh Gupta filed the petition in this matter through attorney Ashok Kumar Nabhewala, while Additional Advocate-General Saurav Khurana represented the State of Punjab.
- PTC NEWS
