Indian trade body calls for end to duty free edible oil import loophole

"The palmolein being imported from Nepal is of Indonesian and Malaysian origin and soybeanoil is of South American origin, routed through Nepal or Bangaldesh... for getting the duty exemption for such imports, " it said in a statement.

MUMBAI: India's top vegetable oil trade body called on Tuesday for the government to close a South Asian regional free-trade pact loophole it said had been used to circumvent tax by re-routing palm oil and soyoil imports through Nepal and Bangladesh.

The Solvent Extractors' Association of India said some traders were sourcing palm oil and soyoil from Nepal and Bangladesh under the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), even though both rely on imports from other countries.