Essential Commodities Act

rdf:langString Essential Commodities Act

rdf:langString Essential Commodities Act, 2020

rdf:langString Parliament of India

rdf:langString An Act to provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities.

rdf:langString Essential Commodities Act, 1955

rdf:langString in force

rdf:langString The Essential Commodities Act (ECA) is an act of the Parliament of India that was established to ensure the delivery of certain commodities or products, the supply of which, if obstructed due to hoarding or black marketing, would affect the normal life of the people. This includes foodstuff, drugs, fuel (petroleum products) etc. This act was modified by the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 as part of the 2020 Indian farm reforms. The ECA was enacted in 1955 and has since been used by the Government to regulate the production, supply, and distribution of a whole host of commodities that it declares ‘essential’ to make them available to consumers at fair prices. Additionally, the government can also fix the minimum support price (MSP) of any packaged product that it declares an “essential commodity”. The list of items under the Act includes drugs, fertilizers, pulses, and edible oils, as well as petroleum and petroleum products. The centre can include new commodities as and when the need arises, and take them off the list once the situation improves.