Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on 19th August 2026. Classified under Extra Ordinary.
Executive Summary
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has issued the Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk Consumers) Order, 2026, to regulate sugar inventory levels. Effective from September 1, 2026, to November 30, 2026, the order mandates that bulk consumers must not hold sugar stocks exceeding fifteen days of their requirement. This measure aims to manage consumption and supply by imposing strict storage limits on high-volume institutional buyers.
Key Points / Main Content
Stockholding Restrictions
Bulk consumers using more than ten metric tons of sugar per month are prohibited from holding more than fifteen days’ worth of stock.
This limit applies to sugar intended for production, consumption, or use as a raw material in any manner.
The order is temporary, remaining in force for a three-month period starting September 1, 2026.
Scope and Definitions
"Bulk consumers" are defined as entities such as confectioners, soft drink manufacturers, food processing industries, and sweetmeat sellers.
An entity qualifies as a bulk consumer if its average monthly sugar consumption was at least ten metric tons over the preceding year (excluding the current month).
Specific exemptions apply to institutions belonging to the Central Government, State Government, Union Territory Administrations, or local bodies.
Verification and Compliance
Sugar mills are required to account for all monthly quantities sold to bulk consumers, whether distributed directly or through dealers.
Consumption and sales data will be verified against Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns.
Verification will specifically utilize the relevant Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Code applicable to sugar to ensure accuracy.
Impact Analysis
Bulk Consumers (Manufacturers, Confectioners, and Institutional Buyers)Impact
These entities are legally restricted from stockpiling sugar, which may impact their inventory management and supply chain logistics during the effective period.
Action Required
Must ensure that their total sugar stock does not exceed a fifteen-day supply and maintain accurate consumption records for verification.
Sugar Mills and DealersImpact
Their sales transactions to bulk consumers will be under increased regulatory scrutiny and subject to government verification.
Action Required
Must accurately report and verify all sales made to bulk consumers and ensure all GST returns are filed correctly using the appropriate HSN codes.
Government and Local BodiesImpact
These institutions are exempt from the stockholding limits defined in this order.
Action Required
No restrictive action is required; however, they remain the overseeing authorities for the implementation of these regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk Consumers) Order, 2026: The primary regulatory order that mandates a fifteen-day stockholding limit for bulk consumers using more than ten metric tons of sugar per month.
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The central legislation, specifically Section 3(1), which provides the legal authority for the government to issue this order to regulate sugar stocks.
Department of Food and Public Distribution: The specific division under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution responsible for the issuance and oversight of this order.
Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) Code: The standardized system used to identify sugar for the purpose of verifying consumption and stock through Goods and Services Tax returns.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-19082026-275591
xxxGIDHxxx
CG-DLxx-ExG-I1D9E0x8x2x0 26-275591
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4407] िई ददल्ली, बधु र्ार, अगस्ट्त 19, 2026/श्रार्ण 28, 1948
No. 4407] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2026/SHRAVAN 28, 1948
उपभोक्ता मामल,े खाद्य और सार्िव जिक जर्तरण मत्रं ालय
(खाद्य और सार्िव जिक जर्तरण जर्भाग)
आदेि
िई ददल्ली, 19 अगस्ट् त, 2026
का.आ. 4587(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, आर्श्यक खाद्य अजधजियम, 1955 (1955 का 10) की धारा 3 की उपधारा (1) द्वारा
प्रदत्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करत ेहुए, जिम्नजलजखत आदिे िारी करती है, अर्ावत- :
1. सजं िप्त िाम और प्रारंभ.- (1) इस आदेि का संजिप्त िाम चीिी (बडे उपभोक्ताओं के जलए स्ट्टॉक रखिे की सीमा) आदेि,
2026 ह।ै
(2) यह आदेि 1 जसतंबर, 2026 से प्रर्ृत् त होगा और 30 िर्ंबर, 2026 तक प्रर्ृत् त रहगे ा।
2. बडे उपभोक्ताओं के जलए स्ट्टॉक रखि ेकी सीमा:)1) कोई भी बडा उपभोक्ता िो उत्पादि, उपभोग या उपयोग के जलए कच्च े
माल के रूप में प्रजत माह दस मीट्ररक टि चीिी का उपयोग या उपभोग करता ह,ै दकसी भी प्रकार से ऐसे उपभोग या उपयोग
के जलए पंद्रह ददिों से अजधक समय के जलए चीिी का स्ट्टॉक िहीं रखेगा;
परंत ु इस आदेि के उपबंध केंद्रीय सरकार, राज्य सरकार, संघ राज्यिेत्र प्रिासि या स्ट्र्ािीय जिकाय से संबंजधत
दकसी भी संस्ट्र्ा पर लागू िहीं होंगे।
6401 GI/2026 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
स्ट्पष्टीकरण - इस आदिे के प्रयोििों के जलए, बड े उपभोक्ता से जमठाई जर्क्रेता, िीतल पेय जिमावता, खाद्य प्रसंस्ट्करण उद्योग,
जमठाई जर्क्रेता या कोई अन्य संस्ट्र्ागत खरीदार अजभप्रेत ह ै िो चालू माह को छोड कर जपछल े एक र्र्व के दौराि औसत
माजसक खपत के रूप म ेंकम से कम दस मीट्ररक टि चीिी का उपभोग करता ह।ै
)2) प्रत्येक चीिी जमल द्वारा बड ेउपभोक्ता को जर्क्रय की गई चीिी की माजसक मात्रा, चाह ेर्ह सीध े अर्र्ा डीलरों के माध्यम
से जर्क्रय की गई हो, का सत्यापि दकया िाएगा और चीिी की खपत का अर्धारण जर्क्रेताओं और/या खरीदारों द्वारा चीिी
पर लागू सुसंगत संगत िामकरण प्रणाली (एचएसएि) कोड का उपयोग करके फाइल दकए गए माल और सेर्ा कर ट्ररटिव के
संदभव में दकया िाएगा।
[फा. स.ं 1(2)/2026-एसपी-I]
अश्विनी श्रीिास्ति, संयुक्त सचिि
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(Department of Food and Public Distribution)
ORDER
New Delhi, the 19th August 2026
S.O. 4587(E) .— In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Essential
Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order, namely: -
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This order may be called the Sugar (Stockholding Limit of Bulk
Consumers) Order, 2026.
(2) This order shall come into force on the 1st day of September, 2026, and shall remain in force upto the 30th
day of November, 2026.
2. Stockholding limit of bulk consumers: (1) No bulk consumer using or consuming more than ten
metric tons of sugar per month as raw material for production, consumption or use, in any manner shall keep
in stock sugar for any period exceeding fifteen days for such consumption or use, as the case may be:
Provided that the provisions of this order shall not apply to any institutions belonging to the Central
Government or the State Government or the Union Territory Administration or local body.
Explanation. - For the purposes of this order, bulk consumer means confectioner, soft drink manufacturer,
food processing industry, sweetmeat seller or any other institutional buyer consuming not less than ten metric
tons of sugar as average monthly consumption during last one year excluding the current month.
(2) The monthly quantity of sugar sold by each sugar mill to the bulk consumer whether directly or through
dealers, shall be verified and consumption of sugar shall be determined, with reference to the Goods and
Services Tax returns filed by the sellers and/or buyers using the relevant Harmonised System of
Nomenclature (HSN) Code applicable to sugar.
[F. No. 1(2)/2026-SP-I]
ASHWINI SRIVASTAVA, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.