On May 27, 2025, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution issued an amendment under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, modifying the 2016 Order on licensing, stock limits, and movement restrictions for foodstuffs. This amendment introduces specific stock limits for wheat across all States and Union Territories, effective immediately and valid until March 31, 2026.
The amended provisions specify that traders and wholesalers can hold up to 3,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat. Individual retail outlets and big chain retailers are permitted to hold a maximum of 10 MT per outlet, with the total stock for chains capped at 10 MT multiplied by the number of outlets. For wheat processors, the allowed limit is set at 70% of their Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC), multiplied by the remaining months of the financial year 2025–26.
All specified legal entities are required to declare their wheat stock levels on the designated government portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login), which will soon be transitioned to https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.in. Any entity holding stock above the permissible limits must reduce their inventory to comply within 15 days of this notification. Regular updating of stock data on the portal is mandatory.
This amendment aligns with the government’s strategy to monitor and regulate wheat stocks amid ongoing concerns about food security and supply chain management. The principal order, originally notified in 2002, has undergone multiple amendments over the years, with this being the latest in a series of regulatory updates aimed at ensuring adequate food availability and curbing hoarding practices.
MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION
(Department of Food and Public Distribution)
ORDER
New Delhi, the 27th May, 2025
S.O. 2359(E).— In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 (10 of 1955), the Central Government hereby makes the following order further to amend the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016, namely:-
1. Short Title and Commencement-
(1) This order may be called the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs (Amendment) Order, 2025
(2) It shall come into force with immediate effect.
2. In the Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016, in clause 3, in sub-clause (2), item (i) shall be inserted namely:-
“(i) Wheat for a period up to 31st March 2026 with following stock limits for all States and Union Territories:
-
- Traders/Wholesaler: 3000 MT;
- Retailer: 10 MT for each Retail outlet.
- Big Chain Retailer: upto 10 MT for each retail outlet subject to maximum quantity of (10 multiplied by total no. of outlets) MT. This will be the maximum stock that can be held at all their retail outlets and depots put together.
- Processors: 70% of Monthly Installed Capacity (MIC) multiplied by remaining months of FY 2025-26.
3. Respective legal entities, as above, shall declare the stocks position on the portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login which will be migrated in due course of time to https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.in) of Department of Food and PD and in case the stocks held by them are higher than the prescribed limits, then they shall bring the same to the prescribed stock limits within 15 days of issue of this notification.
4. It shall be ensured that Wheat stock is regularly declared and updated on the portal of this Department i.e. (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login which will be migrated in due course of time to https://foodstock.dfpd.gov.in).
[F. No3/1/2007 Py-III]
C. SHIKHA, Jt. Secy.
Note : The principal order was published in the Gazette of India, vide Order No. GSR 104 (E), dated 15th February, 2002 and subsequently amended vide Order No. GSR 490 (E) dated 16th June, 2003 and S.O. No. 1373 (E) dated 29th August, 2006, S.O. No. 297 (E) dated the 27th February 2007 and S.O. No. 1488 (E) dated the 31st August, 2007 and S.O.2566(E) dated-12th June 2023 and S.O.4074(E) dated 14.09.2023 and S.O.5292 (E) dated 08.12.2023, S.O. 575(E) dated 08.02.2024, S.O No.2428 (E) dated 24.06.2024, S.O. No.3915 (E) dated 09.09.2024, S.O 5343 (E) No. dated 11.12.2024 and S.O. No. 901(E) dated 20.02.2025.
