New Delhi, August 20: In a significant move to control rising sugar prices ahead of the festive season, the central government has implemented a 15-day stock limit for large buyers and industrial consumers of sugar. This decision aims to ensure adequate market availability and curb hoarding.
According to a notification from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, the new order will take effect on September 1 and remain in force until November 30. The goal is to maintain a steady supply of sugar in the market.
Under the new regulations, any industrial or institutional consumer using more than 10 metric tons of sugar monthly for raw materials, production, or consumption will not be allowed to stock more than their 15-day requirement.
The government has included sweet manufacturers, confectionery industries, soft drink producers, food processing units, and other institutional buyers in this category. These consumers will be identified based on their average monthly consumption over the past year.
However, entities related to the central government, state governments, union territory administrations, and local bodies are exempt from this order.
Additionally, the government stated that the quantity of sugar sold to large consumers, either directly by sugar mills or through dealers, will be verified. This will involve using Goods and Services Tax (GST) returns and sugar-related HSN codes to track actual consumption and purchases.
This decision comes at a time when the government has already limited sugar storage for dealers to 30 days. Despite these measures, sugar prices continue to rise in the market.
According to government data, the average retail price of sugar reached ₹52.30 per kilogram on August 18, compared to ₹46.34 per kilogram during the same period last year, marking an annual increase of approximately 13 percent.
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