In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 1 and clause n of sub section 2 of Section 35 of the Warehousing Development and Regulation Act

## Report on Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) Notification S.O. 552(E) **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes Notification S.O. 552(E) issued by the Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA), Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, dated February 4, 2021. This notification stipulates that specific agricultural commodities must be stored in registered warehouses. It also defines the quality standards these commodities must meet and designates authorized laboratories for quality testing. The key finding is the expansion of commodities requiring storage in registered warehouses and the emphasis on standardized quality control through recognized laboratories. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview and analysis of the WDRA Notification S.O. 552(E) based solely on the content of the provided policy text. This report will detail the key provisions, affected parties, and potential implications of the notification. **3. Policy Overview:** * This is a new policy directive/regulation. * **Core Objective(s):** The core objective is to mandate the storage of specified agricultural commodities in registered warehouses and to ensure these commodities adhere to defined quality standards. This aims to improve the regulation and potentially the quality and safety of stored agricultural products. **4. Background and Rationale:** This new policy likely addresses the need for better regulation and quality control of agricultural commodities storage. By mandating storage in registered warehouses and specifying quality standards, the policy aims to reduce spoilage, maintain commodity quality, and potentially increase consumer confidence. The requirement for laboratory testing suggests concerns about the potential for substandard or adulterated commodities entering the market. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** As this is a new policy directive, the following details the main components and actions mandated by the provided text: * **Mandatory Warehousing:** The notification mandates that the agricultural commodities specified in the attached Table must be stored in registered warehouses. * **Commodity List:** The specific commodities include: * Milk and Dairy Products (Pasteurized Butter, Ghee, Skimmed Milk Powder) * Cereals (Oats) * Miscellaneous (Mustard oil cake expressed, Mustard oil cake solvent extracted, Neem cake, Neem oil, Neem seed, Tapioca chips, Tapioca products Animal feed) * **Quality Standards:** The listed commodities must comply with the qualitative specifications or standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), AGMARK, or the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). * **Alternative Quality Standards:** If BIS, AGMARK, or FSSAI standards do not exist for a commodity, the quality standards laid down by the Central Government or the State Governments or Government bodies shall be applicable. * **Authorized Laboratories:** All AGMARK laboratories, all accredited laboratories notified by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration (NABL), and laboratories recognized by the BIS and FSSAI are authorized for laboratory testing. * **Additional Laboratories:** The Central Government or the State Government laboratories and other laboratories recognised by them may also conduct testing of commodities. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this policy include: * **Warehouse Operators:** Those operating warehouses that store, or intend to store, the specified agricultural commodities. These warehouses must be registered. * **Producers and Suppliers:** Producers and suppliers of the listed agricultural commodities (Milk and Dairy products, Cereals, and the Miscellaneous group including Oil Cakes and Tapioca) who use warehousing facilities. * **Testing Laboratories:** AGMARK laboratories, NABL accredited laboratories, and laboratories recognized by BIS and FSSAI, as well as Central and State Government laboratories. * **Consumers:** The end consumers of these products, who will potentially benefit from higher quality and regulated storage. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible agency/bodies:** The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority (WDRA) is the primary responsible body. Other bodies include BIS, AGMARK, FSSAI, NABL, Central Government, and State Government laboratories. * **Procedures:** Warehouses handling the specified commodities must be registered with the WDRA (inferred from the reference to registered warehouses). * **Quality Control:** Commodities must undergo laboratory testing to ensure compliance with stipulated standards. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of this notification include: * **Improved Storage Practices:** Encouraging best practices and potentially reducing losses due to spoilage or improper handling through mandating registered warehouses for these specified products. * **Enhanced Quality Assurance:** Ensuring that the specified agricultural commodities meet defined quality standards, leading to improved product quality and consumer safety. * **Standardized Testing:** Promoting uniformity and reliability in commodity testing through the involvement of accredited and recognized laboratories. * **Increased Transparency:** Facilitating tracking and monitoring of the commodities, potentially reducing fraudulent practices. **9. Conclusion:** WDRA Notification S.O. 552(E) represents a significant step towards regulating the storage and quality of specific agricultural commodities. By mandating storage in registered warehouses and emphasizing adherence to quality standards through recognized laboratories, the policy aims to improve product safety, reduce spoilage, and protect consumer interests. This regulation will likely have a direct impact on warehouse operators, producers, suppliers, and testing laboratories involved in the handling of these commodities.

Key Entities Referenced