Though the Centre passed the order - Essential Commodities Packaging Order -- making it mandatory for all edible oils to be sold in packs only on September 15, it gave freedom to the state governments to relax it wherever it felt necessary.

It was reiterated at a state chief ministers' meeting called by prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on November 27 to discuss the situation of spiralling prices of essential commodities.

The order was passed by government following widespread cases of dropsy, leading to the death of 60 people and hospitalisation of over 1500, due to adulteration of mustard oil. The dropsy incident is currently being probed by CBI.

A meeting of state chief secretariesand representatives was held by R P Sinha, secretary, sugar and edible department in the food ministry on December 5 regarding the order.

During the meeting, some states raised doubts about enforcement, inspection staff and differences about qualification of the inspection staff.

The states were once again told that they could relax the order and exemption, especially to small producers, could be given through a notification. The state governments had also expressed apprehension that edible oil costs would go up and weaker sections of the society would be put to trouble.

However, they were told that it would cost Rs 1.50 only to pack a litre of oil and as it was, consumers were having to pay for packing edible oil in tins indirectly.

During the meeting, states were also told that they would not require additional staff to implement the order. The civil supplies staff had only to go to the premises of a producer packing oil and inspect the facilities before registering the producer's name.

It was forthe prevention of food adulteration authorities (PFA) to ensure quality of the packed oil. Asked if Delhi would implement the order immediately, the sources said the national capital territory had sought relaxation from the order for an year as it was not fully prepared with necessary infrastructure.

However, the capital territory had passed an edible oil (procedure for identification and declaration of unadulterated stocks) order, 1998. While Rajasthan had sought a postponement to implement the order till March 31 since 70 per cent edible oil was consumed in loose form, West Bengal had sought two years time to implement it.

Karnataka government had said it would take six months to implement it, while Madhya Pradesh had exempted sale of loose oil till March 31 next. Gujarat had said it would implement the order in a phased manner as also Bihar. Punjab, on the other hand, had sought six months time. States like Tamil Nadu and Kerala, too, had sought additional time to implement the order.