**Executive Summary**
The document is a republication of the Government of India Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution's "Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016" in the Tamil Nadu Government Gazette. It removes licensing requirements, stock limits, and movement restrictions on specified foodstuffs. The order came into effect on October 1st, 2016.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Removal of Restrictions:**
* Dealers can freely buy, stock, sell, transport, distribute, dispose, acquire, use, or consume any quantity of specified foodstuffs without requiring a permit or license.
* Specified foodstuffs include wheat, wheat products, paddy, rice, coarse grains, sugar, gur, edible oilseeds, edible oils, pulses, hydrogenated vegetable oils or vanaspati, onions, and potatoes.
* **Exceptions:**
* The removal of restrictions does not apply to:
* Pulses, until September 30th, 2017.
* Sugar, until November 21st, 2016, in specific states and union territories, and until October 28th, 2016, in other regions.
* Edible oils and edible oilseeds, until September 30th, 2017, except for stock limit calculations for exporters, retailers with multiple outlets, or stock used by food processors.
* **Definitions:**
* "Dealer" includes wholesalers, retailers, producers, manufacturers, importers, and exporters (excluding sugar producers/manufacturers/importers/exporters).
* **Impact on Prior Orders:**
* This order supersedes the Removal of (Licensing requirements, Stock limits and Movement Restrictions) on specified Foodstuffs Order, 2002.
* The order has effect notwithstanding any order issued by the State Government; prior approval of the Central Government is required for new orders regulating specified commodities.
* **Exceptions to Impact on Prior Orders:**
* The order does not affect the Public Distribution System (Control) Order, 2001.
* The order does not affect the order for levy from millers or traders of paddy or rice issued by the State Government.
**Impact Analysis**
**Dealers (Wholesalers, Retailers, Producers, Manufacturers, Importers, and Exporters)**
* **Impact:**
* More freedom in buying, stocking, selling, transporting, distributing, disposing of, acquiring, using, or consuming specified foodstuffs.
* Potential change in the dynamics of the commodity market.
* **Action Required:**
* Comply with the remaining stock limit restrictions on pulses, sugar, edible oils, and edible oilseeds as specified in the order, when applicable.
**Tamil Nadu State Government**
* **Impact:**
* Must obtain prior approval from the Central Government for issuing new orders regulating the commodities specified in clause 3.
* Existing orders for the Public Distribution System and levy from millers/traders for rice procurement are not affected.
* **Action Required:**
* Seek prior approval from the Central Government for future regulations on the specified commodities.
**Consumers**
* **Impact:**
* Potentially impacted by changes in the availability, distribution, and pricing of foodstuffs, though not directly addressed in this order.
* **Action Required:**
* No direct action is required.
Key Entities Referenced
Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016: Order removing licensing, stock limits, and movement restrictions on specific foodstuffs
Tamil Nadu: The state to which this gazette and the republished order apply.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The central act providing the legal basis for the republished order.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The ministry of Government of India that originally issued the order being republished.