Starting from Tuesday, the Ministry of Industry has imposed a ban on the sale of loose soybean oil in the market. The ban, which took effect immediately, is aimed at controlling edible oil prices, preventing adulteration, and maintaining quality.
The Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection has started to monitor the situation from Tuesday onwards to ensure compliance with the ban.
However, some consumers, especially those with low incomes, have expressed concerns about the ban and requested more time to adjust to the new regulation. They argue that open soybean oil is widely used by low-income individuals, and a sudden ban might impact their access to affordable cooking oil.
Presently, the annual demand for edible oil in the country is 24 lakh tonnes, with only 12 percent (3 lakh tonnes) being produced domestically. The remaining 88 percent is met through imports, with 60 percent of imported soybean oil and 97 percent of palm oil being sold in bulk.
To address the issue of price control, adulteration, and quality maintenance, the Ministry of Industry has ordered that soybean oil should be sold only in properly packaged form. This measure is expected to help consumers by ensuring fixed prices set by the government and promoting a standardized product.
Refineries have been given time to transition to packaging soybean oil, but some traders believe that packaging by oil refinery companies at government-fixed prices will benefit buyers.
Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) general secretary Humayun Kabir has earlier expressed concern that the ban on the sale of loose soybean oil may create difficulties for consumers who purchase small quantities, such as 200 grams to 250 grams.
To address this issue, he suggested making small packets of soybean oil available in the market, allowing such consumers to still have access to affordable portions.
Additionally, Kabir highlighted the importance of conducting regular drives to control the market effectively. These drives can help ensure compliance with the ban on sale of open edible oil, control prices, prevent adulteration, and maintain the quality of edible oil products in the market.
By making smaller packets available and conducting regular market campaigns, the authorities can strike a balance between the ban's objectives and the needs of consumers, particularly those with limited purchasing power who rely on smaller quantities of soybean oil.
This is not the first time such a ban has been attempted. Since 2020, there have been three previous attempts to ban the sale of open soybean oil, but implementation has faced challenges. Now, with the monitoring initiative by the Directorate of Consumer Rights Protection, it is hoped that the new ban will be effectively enforced for the benefit of consumers and the overall market.
