This document is a Tamil Nadu Government Gazette notification, dated February 15, 2017, concerning the removal of licensing requirements, stock limits, and movement restrictions on certain food commodities. The notification, issued by the Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection Department, references Government Order ( நிலை) எண் 138, dated December 7, 2016. It re-publishes the Central Government's G.S.R. 929(E) notification of September 29, 2016, from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution (Department of Consumer Affairs), New Delhi.
Key points:
* **Short Title and Commencement:** The order is called the "2016 ஆம் ஆண்டு சில குறிப்பிட்ட உணவுப் பொருட்கள் (உரிமம் பெறும் தேவைகள், இருப்பு வரையறைகள் மற்றும் எடுத்துச் செல்வதற்கான கட்டுப்பாடுகள்) நீக்கல் ஆணை" and came into effect on October 1, 2016.
* **Definitions:** "சட்டம்" refers to the Essential Commodities Act, 1955; "மத்திய அரசு" refers to the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution; "வணிகர்" means the wholesale or retail seller, manufacturer, etc. No sugar producer or manufacturer or importer is included. "மாநில அரசு" in relation to a Union Territory is its administrator.
* **Removal of Restrictions:** Traders can freely buy, stock, sell, transport, distribute, process, acquire, use or consume wheat, wheat products, paddy, rice, coarse grains, sugar, jaggery, edible oilseeds, edible oils, pulses, hydrogenated vegetable oils/vanaspati, onions and potatoes without needing licenses or permits, except as restricted by any existing orders.
* **Exemptions:** The removal of restrictions does not apply to pulses until September 30, 2017. For sugar, the removal of restrictions only apply until November 21, 2016, in the states of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, and until October 28, 2016, in the other states. Similarly, the removal of restrictions does not apply to edible oilseeds and edible oils, until September 30, 2017, under certain circumstances.
* **No impact:** This notification does not affect the Public Distribution System (Control) Order of 2001, or any orders that were issued by the State Government. Nor does it affect orders that are issued by State Governments for the purpose of levying taxes on rice mill owners.
The notification is issued by P.V. Rama Sastri, Joint Secretary and re-published by Pradeep Yadav, Government Principal Secretary as per the order of the Governor. The translation is by N. Arul, Director, Tamil Development and Information (Translation) Department.
Key Entities Referenced
Essential Commodities Act, 1955: The principal law under which the order is issued, regulating essential commodities.
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution: The central ministry responsible for issuing the order concerning consumer affairs and food distribution.
Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions Order, 2016: The central theme of the order itself - the removal of licensing requirements, stock limits, and movement restrictions on certain food items.
G.S.R. 929(E): The Gazette of India notification number through which the order is published.
Tamil Nadu: One of the states to which specific provisions of the order apply, particularly concerning the timeframes for restrictions on listed food items.