Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Shipping and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Shri Mansukh L. Mandaviya, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha today, informed that the Government has taken a number of measures to curb malpractice of using spurious/cheap oil in lieu of neem oil in neem coating of urea, which are as follows:-

·         Department of Fertilizers (DoF) from time to time has issued instructions to urea units for ensuring the quality of neem oil and to procure it from genuine neem oil manufacturers only. 

·         Department of Agriculture, Cooperation & Farmers’ Welfare (DAC&FW), in an order dated 06^th February, 2017, has amended the specification of Neem Coated Urea wherein a foot note regarding specification of neem oil has been included.  DoF has directed all the urea manufacturers/importers to strictly adhere to the specification of neem oil used for the purpose of production of neem coated urea.    

·         DoF has requested DAC&FW to advise the Central Laboratories to lift samples of neem oil used for neem coated urea from the premises of urea manufacturing units to test its quality as per the specification of neem oil.

·         DoF has advised all the urea manufacturers/importers to include the details of the production/import capacity and quantity of neem oil to be supplied to urea manufacturers/importers as a condition in the ‘Tender Notice’.

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VM