The Hindu Business Line : `Delay in review of food standards preventing rice bran oil promotion'

Agri-Biz & Commodities - Oilseeds & Edible Oil
Industry & Economy - Standards & Benchmarks
`Delay in review of food standards preventing rice bran oil promotion'

M.R. Subramani

Production can top 10 lakh tonnes in 3 years

Chennai June 25 The country has a potential to produce at least 10 lakh tonnes of rice bran oil in the next three years but a couple of issues are deterring the industry from going the whole hog to promote it.

According to Solvent Extraction Association of India officials, the first deterrent is the delay in reviewing the Prevention of Food (PFA) Adulteration Standard of rice bran oil, which is derived from rice bran that is a by-product generated during de-husking process of paddy.

The PFA standards for the oil were laid down in 1986 and these were based on results of the oil produced through chemical refining process. However, with the help of the Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, and the Central of Scientific and Industrial Research, a new process - physical refining - has been developed. After this, 17 new units refining rice bran through this technology have come up at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

FAT-free matter

The new technology ensures better product quality with higher levels of nutrients present in the unsaponifiable matter of this oil, according to the officials. Unsaponifiable matter is the non-triglycerid part present in the oil. These are free of fats that affect the health.

The industry approached the Union Ministry of Health in 2001 for revisiting the PFA standards of rice bran oil and raising the unsaponifiable matter from 3.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent. "Since then, the issue has been discussed in details at a number of meetings of the Oils and Fats Sub-Committee," they said.

Besides, the Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore, and `Indian Institute of Chemical Technologyconducted detail studies on the terms of reference finalised by the sub-committee. "Finally, the sub-committee at its meeting on August 25 last decided to recommend changing the unsaponifiable matter specification to 4.5 per cent," the officials said, adding that the recommendations were forwarded to the Cabinet Committee on Food Standards.

But the Cabinet panel has now decided to refer the issue back to the Oils and Fats Sub-Committee and this, according to the officials, will not serve any purpose except delaying the decision on the issue lingering over six years.

The other issue is the procedure for determination of acid value as laid down under PFA. "The current procedure is not suitable for testing acid value in the case of refined rice bran oil and the Centre should change it in line with the global practice," the officials said.

EXCISE DUTY

Yet another problem with rice bran oils is that all the by-products generated during refining of rice bran oil are liable for an excise levy of 16 per cent. Though the Centre announced exemption of excise duty to waste products produced during production of exempted goods, the benefits have not accrued to the producers. "Therefore, the Centre has to come out with a clear cut policy on this," they said.

According to the officials, the Japanese call rice bran oil as "heart oil", while in the US, it is being marketed as the "world's healthiest oil". In countries such as Thailand, China and South Korea, it is acknowledged as a premium cooking oil.

Stating that studies conducted in various parts of the world have revealed that rice bran oil lowers cholestrol, they said the oil also has several other ingredients that have anti-cancer, anti-ageing and anti-oxidant properties.

According to the Solvent Extraction Association, rice bran oil can help bridge the demand-supply gap in edible oils besides ensuring better return to the farmers.

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