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With a view to provide further relief to consumers and to keep in check any further rise in prices of domestic edible oils due to rise in prices of edible oils globally, the Centre has reduced the agri-cess for crude palm oil (CPO) from 7.5 per cent to 5 per cent with effect from February 12, an official statement said on Monday.

After reduction of the agri-cess, the import tax gap between CPO and refined palm oil has increased to 8.25 per cent. "The increase in the gap between the CPO and refined palm oil will benefit the domestic refining industry to import crude oil for refining," the Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Ministry statement said.

Another pre-emptive measure taken by the government to check the prices of edible oils is to extend the current basic rate of import duty of zero per cent on crude palm oil, crude soyabean oil, and crude sunflower oil up to September 30, 2022.

The rate of import duty on refined palm oils at 12.5 per cent, and refined soyabean oil and refined sunflower oil at 17.5 per cent will help in cooling down the prices of edible oils, which are witnessing an upward trend in the international market due to lower availability and other international factors.

"The above steps will augment the earlier measure taken by the government viz. the stock limit order dated February 3, 2022 vide which the government had specified the stock limit quantities on edible oils and oilseeds for a period upto June 30, 2022 under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955. This measure is expected to curtail any unfair practices like hoarding, black marketing etc. of edible oils and oilseeds in the market, which may lead to any increase in the prices of edible oils," the statement said.

Oil industry is being called for a meeting on Tuesday to do their best in passing on the benefit to consumers and state governments have been requested to enforce stock limit order strictly, the release added.