Addressing a state-level conference called jointly by the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bombay Oilseeds and Oil Exchanges Limited, Poona Merchants' Chamber and the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, Bagade said the Central Government order banning the sale of loose edible oil and enforcing the sale of packaged oil from December 15 onwards had been deferred till January 15.

He said the state government wanted to discuss the move with the concerned parties before taking a decision. The Central government issued the Edible Oils Packaging Regulation Order 1998 following scores of deaths in the capital and in some northern states due to consumption of adulterated mustard oil.

Bagade said the proposed ban would not only affect cottage industries and small traders, particularly in the rural areas, but alsoplace edible oil beyond the reach of those who could not afford the packaged version.

Packets or pouches would only add to the cost, he pointed out. Besides, Bagade said, since milk and spices were being sold loose as well as packed, edible oil ``could not be singled out.''

Secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat, Suryakant Pathak, pointed out that the smallest pouch of edible oil weighing 200 ml (190 gm) was being sold for Rs 16.50 per pouch, which, at Rs 82 to Rs 90 a kilo, was nearly double the price of loosely sold oil, ranging from Rs 45 to Rs 60 per kilo.

Traders' associations should hand over adulterators to law enforcing agencies, he said, adding packaged oil was ``not a guarantee'' against adulteration.

Rajesh Shah of the Poona Merchants' Chamber said the new order would spell doom for small traders, manufacturers and the poor. Multinational companies were behind the move, he alleged.

Another speaker, Dheeraj Savla, said there was ``no need'' for the new order as the FoodAdulteration Act, 1954 was effective for the purpose. He questioned the need to create a new edible oil commissionerate in the backdrop of the government's delicensing policy.

Chairman of the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce and Industry Khushalbhai Poddar said manufacturers and traders were not against the ban but felt that banning the sale of loose edible oil was "wrong.''