New Delhi, June 4 -- The Solvent Extractors' Association of India (SEA), an industry body, on Wednesday urged its 875 members to pass on the benefit of reduced import duties to consumers and reduce the prices of packaged edible oils.

The communication comes after the government's 31 May decision to cut the basic customs duty on crude soybean, palm and sunflower oil from 20% to 10%. This change reverses over eight months of higher import duties on these oils.

Consequently, the effective import duty on these three products, which includes basic customs duty and additional fees, has decreased to 16.5% from 27.5%.

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"It is pertinent to note that the Government of India has downwa...