## Report on the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Amendment Order, 2025
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes the “Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Amendment Order, 2025,” as published in the Gazette of India. This amendment modifies the 2016 Order of the same name, specifically introducing stock limits for wheat for a limited period, ending March 31, 2026. The amendment mandates that affected entities declare their stock positions on designated online portals and adhere to the newly prescribed stock limits. The core purpose of the amendment, inferred from the text, is to manage wheat stock levels across various stakeholders in the food supply chain.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative overview of the “Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Amendment Order, 2025.” The analysis is based solely on the text provided in the Gazette notification and aims to clarify the specific changes introduced by this amendment.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Original Policy:** The amendment modifies the “Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016.”
* **Core Objective(s):** From the provided text, the core objective of *this specific amendment* is to regulate wheat stock levels across different categories of traders, retailers, processors, and big chain retailers until March 31, 2026. The objective of the original 2016 policy appears to be the removal of licensing, stock limits, and movement restrictions on specific foodstuffs, however, this amendment temporarily reinstates stock limits for wheat.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment appears to be a temporary measure implemented to manage wheat stocks. The rationale, inferred from the text, suggests a need to control or monitor the availability of wheat, possibly due to concerns about supply, pricing, or distribution. By setting stock limits, the government likely aims to prevent hoarding, ensure fair pricing, and maintain a stable supply of wheat in the market. This is a contrast to the original policy, indicating a possible shift in market conditions or government priorities.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
The “Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Amendment Order, 2025” introduces the following changes:
* **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** Clause 3, subclause 2, of the 2016 Order is amended.
* **New Rule/Provision:** Item i is inserted into Clause 3, subclause 2, establishing stock limits for wheat, effective until March 31, 2026, for all States and Union Territories. The stock limits are as follows:
* Traders/Wholesalers: 3000 MT
* Retailers: 10 MT per retail outlet.
* Big Chain Retailers: Up to 10 MT for each retail outlet, with a maximum limit calculated as 10 MT multiplied by the total number of outlets (covering all retail outlets and depots).
* Processors: 70% of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by the remaining months of the financial year 2025-26.
* **Difference/Effect of the Change:** The original 2016 policy aimed to remove stock limits. This amendment *reintroduces* those limits, but specifically *only* for wheat and *only* until March 31, 2026. This change requires stakeholders to manage their wheat stocks within prescribed limits, a constraint not present under the original policy.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the text, the primary target audience and stakeholders are:
* Wheat traders and wholesalers.
* Wheat retailers (including individual outlets and big chain retailers).
* Wheat processors.
* State and Union Territory governments (in terms of enforcement).
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agencies/Bodies:** The Department of Food and Public Distribution, under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, is the responsible agency.
* **Timelines and Procedures:**
* The amendment is effective immediately (May 27, 2025).
* Affected entities must declare their stock positions on the specified portals (https:evegoils.nic.inwsplogin, to be migrated to https:foodstock.dfpd.gov.in).
* If current stock exceeds the limits, entities have 15 days from the date of the notification (May 27, 2025) to reduce stock to comply with the limits.
* Wheat stock declarations must be regularly declared and updated on the specified portals.
* Stock limits are effective until March 31, 2026.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of this amendment are:
* **Controlled Wheat Stock Levels:** The primary goal is to keep wheat stock within prescribed limits across different stakeholder groups.
* **Prevent Hoarding:** Limiting stock may prevent hoarding of wheat, which could stabilize prices.
* **Ensured Market Availability:** The amendment may intend to ensure a continuous and fair supply of wheat in the market.
* **Enhanced Monitoring:** Regular stock declarations will provide the government with better data to monitor the overall wheat supply chain.
**9. Conclusion:**
The “Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Amendment Order, 2025,” represents a significant, though temporary, shift from the original policy by reintroducing stock limits specifically for wheat. This amendment mandates stock declarations, imposes limits on traders, retailers, and processors, and sets a deadline for compliance. The likely intent is to manage wheat supply, prevent hoarding, and ensure market stability until March 31, 2026. Affected stakeholders must promptly comply with the new requirements to avoid potential penalties. This measure is important for the wheat industry and requires careful monitoring.
Key Entities Referenced
REGD. No. D. L.3300499: Registration number of the document.
28052025263423 CGDxLxxEGI2D8H0x5x2x0 25263423 xxxGIDExxx: A unique identifier string present in the document.
EXTRAORDINARY: Denotes the type of Gazette of India issue.
PART IISection 3Subsection ii: Section and subsection of the Gazette of India.
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY: Indicates the document's official status.
NEW DELHI: Location of publication.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025: Date of publication.
JYAISHTHA 7, 1947: Date in the Indian national calendar.
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY: Name of the official government gazette.
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION: Name of the government ministry.
Department of Food and Public Distribution: Name of the department within the ministry.
ORDER: Type of document being analyzed.
New Delhi, the 27th May, 2025: Date and place of order issuance.
S.O. 2359E: Order number.
Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955: Legal basis for the order.
1955: Year of the Essential Commodities Act.
Central Government: Issuing authority of the order.
Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016: The order being amended.
2016: Year of the original order being amended.
Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Amendment Order, 2025: Title of the amendment order.
Wheat: Foodstuff mentioned in the order.
31st March 2026: Date until when the stock limits are defined for Wheat.
States and Union Territories: Geographical area to which the order applies.
TradersWholesaler: Entity Type subject to stock limits.
3000 MT: Stock limit for TradersWholesaler.
Retailer: Entity Type subject to stock limits.
10 MT: Stock limit for Retailer.
Big Chain Retailer: Entity Type subject to stock limits.
Processors: Entity Type subject to stock limits.
70 of Monthly Installed Capacity MIC: Stock limit defined for Processors.
FY 202526: Financial year mentioned in the context of stock limits for Processors.
https:evegoils.nic.inwsplogin: URL for declaring stock positions.
https:foodstock.dfpd.gov.in: URL for the Department of Food and PD's stock portal.
Department of Food and PD: The department responsible for the stock portal.
15 days: Timeframe to bring stocks within prescribed limits.
F. No312007 PyIII: File number of the order.
C. SHIKHA: Name of the Joint Secretary.
Jt. Secy.: Designation of C. Shikha.
Gazette of India: Publication in which the principal order was published.
GSR 104 E: Order number of the principal order.
15th February, 2002: Date of the principal order.
GSR 490 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
16th June, 2003: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O. No. 1373 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
29th August, 2006: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O. No. 297 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
27th February 2007: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O. No. 1488 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
31st August, 2007: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O.2566E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
12th June 2023: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O.4074E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
14.09.2023: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O.5292 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
08.12.2023: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O. 575E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
08.02.2024: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O No.2428 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
24.06.2024: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O. No.3915 E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
09.09.2024: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O 5343 E No.: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
11.12.2024: Date of a subsequent amendment.
S.O. No. 901E: Order number of a subsequent amendment.
20.02.2025: Date of a subsequent amendment.
Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi110064: Details of the printing authority.
Controller of Publications, Delhi110054: Details of the publisher.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-28052025-263423
CG-DxLx-xEG-I2D8H0x5x2x0 25-263423
xxxGIDExxx
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण्ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 2305] िई ददल्ली, बुधर्ार, मई 28, 2025/ज्य ष्े ठ 7, 1947
No. 2305] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025/JYAISHTHA 7, 1947
उपभोक्ता मामल,े खाद्य और सार्िव जिक जर्तरण मत्रं ालय
(खाद्य और सार्िव जिक जर्तरण जर्भाग)
आदेि
िई ददल्ली, 27 मई, 2025
का.आ. 2359(अ).— केंद्रीय सरकार, आर्श्यक र्स्ट्त ु अजधजियम, 1955 (1955 का 10) की धारा 3 द्वारा प्रदत्त
िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करते हुए, जर्जिष्ट खाद्य पदार्थों पर लाइसेंसी अपेक्षाएं, स्ट्टॉक सीमाएं और संचलि प्रजतबंध हटािा
आदेि, 2016 में और संिोधि करिे के जलए जिम्नजलजखत आदिे करती है, अर्थावत् :-
1. संजक्षप्त िाम और प्रारंभ-
(1) इस आदेि का िाम जर्जिष्ट खाद्य पदार्थों पर लाइसेंसी अपक्षे ाएं, स्ट्टॉक सीमाएं और संचलि प्रजतबंध हटािा (संिोधि)
आदेि, 2025 होगा।
(2) यह तत्काल प्रभार् से लाग ूहोगा।
2. जर्जिष्ट खाद्य पदार्थों पर लाइसेंसी अपेक्षाएं, स्ट्टॉक सीमाएं और संचलि प्रजतबंध हटािा आदिे , 2016 म,ें खडं 3 म,ें
उप- खडं (2) म,ें मद (i) को समाजर्ष्ट दकया िाएगा, िामत: -
“(i) सभी राज्यों और संघ राज्य क्षेत्रों के जलए जिम्नजलजखत स्ट्टॉक सीमाओं के सार्थ ददिांक 31 माच,व 2026 तक की अर्जध
के जलए गेह:ं
3465 GI/2025 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
व्यापारी/र्थोक जर्क्रेता :3000 मीट्ररक टि;
ट्ररटेलर: प्रत्येक ट्ररटेल आउटलेट के जलए10 मीट्ररक टि।
जबग चिे ट्ररटेलर: प्रत्येक ट्ररटेल आउटलेट के जलए10 मीट्ररक टिबिते अजधकतम मात्रा (कुल दकु ािों की संख्या का 10
गुणा) मीट्ररक टि। यह अजधकतम स्ट्टॉक होगा िो उिके सभी ट्ररटेल आउटलेट और जडपो पर एक सार्थ रखा िा सकता ह।ै
प्रोसेससव :माजसक स्ट्र्थाजपत क्षमता के70% मात्रा को 2025-26 के िषे महीिों स ेगणु ा, के बराबर
3. उपयुवक्त के अिुसार संबंजधत जर्जधक इकाईयां, खाद्य और सार्विजिक जर्तरण जर्भाग के पोटवल
(https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login जिसेhttps://foodstock.dfpd.gov.inपर स्ट्र्थािांतट्ररत कर ददया िाएगा) पर
स्ट्टॉक की जस्ट्र्थजत की घोषणा करेंगी और यदद उिके पास धाट्ररत स्ट्टॉक जिधावट्ररत सीमा से अजधक ह ै तो र्े, इस अजधसूचिा
के िारी होिे की तारीख से 15 ददिों के भीतर इसे जिधावट्ररत स्ट्टॉक सीमा तक लाएगं े।
4. यह सुजिजित दकया िाएगा दक इस जर्भाग के पोटवल अर्थावत् (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login जिस े
https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.inपर स्ट्र्थािांतट्ररत कर ददया िाएगा) पर गेह ं के स्ट्टॉक की घोषणा और अद्यति जियजमत
रूप से दकए िाएंगे।
[फा. स.ं 3/1/2007- िीजत -III]
सी. जिखा, संयुक्त सजचर्,
िोट: मलू आदेि भारत के रािपत्र में आदेि संख्या सा.का.जि. 104 (अ), ददिांक 15 फरर्री, 2002 के माध्यम स े
प्रकाजित दकया गया र्था और इसके बाद आदेि संख्या सा.का.जि. 490 (अ) ददिांक 16 ििू , 2003 और का.आ. संख्या
1373 (अ) ददिांक 29 अगस्ट्त, 2006, का.आ. संख्या 297 (अ) ददिांक 27 फरर्री 2007, का.आ. संख्या 1488 (अ)
ददिांक 31 अगस्ट्त, 2007, का. आ. संख्या 2566 (अ) ददिांक 12 िूि, 2023, का. आ. संख्या 4074(अ) ददिांक 14
जसतम्बर, 2023, का. आ. संख्या 5292(अ) ददिांक 8 ददसंबर, 2023, का. आ. संख्या 575(अ) ददिांक 08 फरर्री 2024,
का. आ. संख्या 2428 (अ) ददिांक 24.06.2024, का. आ. संख्या 3915 (अ) ददिांक 09.09.2024, का. आ. संख्या
5343(अ) ददिांक 11.12.2024 और का. आ. संख्या 901(अ) ददिांक 20.02.2025. के द्वारा संिोधि दकए गए र्थे।
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(Department of Food and Public Distribution)
ORDER
New Delhi, the 27th May, 2025
S.O. 2359(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955
(10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order further to amend the Removal of Licensing
Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016, namely:-
1. Short Title and Commencement-
(1) This order may be called the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on
Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2025
(2) It shall come into force with immediate effect.
2. In the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs
Order, 2016, in clause 3, in sub-clause (2), item (i) shall be inserted namely:-
“(i) Wheat for a period up to 31st March 2026 with following stock limits for all States and Union Territories:
Traders/Wholesaler: 3000 MT;
Retailer: 10 MT for each Retail outlet.
Big Chain Retailer: upto 10 MT for each retail outlet subject to maximum quantity of (10 multiplied by total no. of
outlets) MT. This will be the maximum stock that can be held at all their retail outlets and depots put together.
Processors: 70% of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by remaining months of FY 2025-26.[भाग II—खण्ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
3. Respective legal entities, as above, shall declare the stocks position on the portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login
which will be migrated in due course of time to https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.in) of Department of Food and PD and in
case the stocks held by them are higher than the prescribed limits, then they shall bring the same to the prescribed
stock limits within 15 days of issue of this notification.
4. It shall be ensured that Wheat stock is regularly declared and updated on the portal of this Department i.e.
(https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login which will be migrated in due course of time to https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.in).
[F. No3/1/2007 Py-III]
C. SHIKHA, Jt. Secy.
Note : The principal order was published in the Gazette of India, vide Order No. GSR 104 (E), dated 15th February,
2002 and subsequently amended vide Order No. GSR 490 (E) dated 16th June, 2003 and S.O. No. 1373 (E) dated 29th
August, 2006, S.O. No. 297 (E) dated the 27th February 2007 and S.O. No. 1488 (E) dated the 31st August, 2007 and
S.O.2566(E) dated-12th June 2023 and S.O.4074(E) dated 14.09.2023 and S.O.5292 (E) dated 08.12.2023, S.O.
575(E) dated 08.02.2024, S.O No.2428 (E) dated 24.06.2024, S.O. No.3915 (E) dated 09.09.2024, S.O 5343 (E) No.
dated 11.12.2024 and S.O. No. 901(E) dated 20.02.2025.
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.