To prevent hoarding and speculation and ensure affordability for consumers, the Government of India has taken measures to impose stock limits on tur dal and urad dal. With immediate effect from 2nd June 2023, the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2023 has been implemented.
Under this order, stock limits have been established for tur dal and urad dal until 31st October 2023 across all states and union territories. The prescribed stock limits are as follows: wholesalers can hold up to 200 MT, retailers can hold up to 5 MT, each retail outlet can hold up to 5 MT, big chain retailers can hold up to 200 MT at the depot, and millers can hold either the last 3 months of production or 25% of their annual installed capacity, whichever is higher. Importers are not permitted to hold imported stock beyond 30 days from the date of Customs clearance. All legal entities involved must declare their stock position on the Department of Consumer Affairs’ portal (https://fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp). If the stocks held exceed the prescribed limits, they must be brought within the limits within 30 days of the notification.
The imposition of stock limits on tur dal and urad dal is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to control the prices of these essential commodities. The Department of Consumer Affairs has been actively monitoring the stock position of these pulses through the stock disclosure portal, conducting weekly reviews with state governments. Extensive engagement with stakeholders such as importers, millers, and retailers has been conducted to ensure compliance with stock disclosure. Furthermore, senior officers have visited Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu to assess the ground situation and gather necessary insights.