What policy interventions is the SEA seeking in Budget 2026-27?

The SEA is seeking interventions such as a uniform duty structure on all crude edible oils, regulation of duty-free imports from Nepal, and a dedicated fund for accelerated soybean MSP procurement.

Why does the SEA want uniform duty on crude edible oils?

A uniform duty across all crude edible oils is requested to rectify market distortions, ensure a level playing field for domestic refiners, and effectively support inflation control and domestic value addition.

What issues are being raised regarding edible oil imports from Nepal?

Concerns include under-utilization of domestic refining capacity, loss of employment, suppression of oilseed prices, revenue loss to the government, and long-term risks to domestic oilseed production and food security.

Home / Business and Economy / Edible Oil Sector Seeks Budget Boost

Edible Oil Sector Seeks Budget Boost

29 Jan

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Summary

SEA requests uniform import duties on all crude edible oils.
Concerns raised over duty-free imports from Nepal affecting farmers.
Dedicated fund sought for accelerated soybean MSP procurement.

The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA) has submitted a pre-Budget memorandum advocating for robust policy support for the domestic edible oil and allied sectors in the forthcoming Budget 2026-27. SEA is pushing for a uniform duty structure on all crude edible oils to rectify current disparities where some oils face higher duties than others, which creates market distortions.

Furthermore, SEA is calling for stricter regulation of duty-free edible oil imports from Nepal. They argue that excessive imports are undermining domestic refining capacity, suppressing oilseed prices, and leading to revenue losses for the government. To counter this, SEA proposed enforcing origin rules and value addition criteria for these imports.

The association also highlighted the plight of soybean farmers, urging the government to allocate a dedicated fund of at least ₹5,000 crore for accelerated Minimum Support Price (MSP) procurement. This measure aims to ensure timely support, improve farmer confidence, and build essential buffer stocks for the edible oil economy.