Tamil Nadu government imposes stock limits on paddy, rice and pulses; excess stocks must be cleared by November 16

Paddy crop at a field in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Under the new order, wholesalers have been permitted to hold a maximum stock of 2,000 metric tonne (MT) of paddy/rice, while the limit for retailers has been fixed at eight metric tonne for each retail outlet. | Photo Credit: Laskhmi Narayanan E

In rare orders, the Tamil Nadu government on Friday imposed stock limits on paddy, rice, tur dal and pulses held by wholesalers, retailers, rice millers, importers and processors, directing those holding stocks in excess of the prescribed quantities to bring them within the limits by November 16.

The orders will apply throughout the State and has come into force with immediate effect. The government is taking this measure to prevent hoarding of essential commodities amid concerns regarding inflation and high price of food items.

The restrictions, introduced through the Tamil Nadu Paddy/Rice (Stock Limit) Control Order, 2026, issued by the Cooperation, Food and Consumer Protection Department, will remain in force until January 31, 2027. Likewise the Tamil Nadu Tur and Urad Pulses (Storage Control) Order, 2026, imposed stock limits for a period of three months.

For equitable distribution

The Government Order, issued by Additional Chief Secretary P. Amudha under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, said the measure was necessary to maintain supplies of paddy and rice, ensure their equitable distribution and secure their availability at fair prices.

Under the new order, wholesalers have been permitted to hold a maximum stock of 2,000 metric tonne (MT) of paddy/rice, while the limit for retailers has been fixed at eight metric tonne for each retail outlet.

Big chain retail shops will also be subject to a limit of 8 MT per outlet, with their overall permissible stock capped at 8 MT multiplied by the total number of outlets operated by the chain.

Rice millers will not be permitted to hold stocks exceeding their one-month production capacity.

Importers, meanwhile, cannot retain imported stocks beyond 45 days from the date of customs clearance. For processors, the permissible stock has been fixed at 60% of their monthly installed capacity multiplied by the number of months remaining until January 2027.

The order requires the respective legal entities to declare their stock positions on the Department of Consumer Affairs’ portal (fcainfoweb.nic.in/psp). Those holding stocks above the prescribed limits have been given until November 16 to bring them down to the permitted levels.

The government has also stipulated that stock positions must be regularly declared and updated on the portal.

As per the order on pulses, a wholesaler can store only 200 MT for each variety of pulse and a retailer 5 MT. For big chain retail shops, the limit is 5 MT at each retail outlet and 200 MT for each depot for each of the pulses.

An importer cannot hold stock beyond 45 days from the date of customs clearance and a miller can hold last three months production or 25% of annual installed capacity, whichever is higher. It overrides the relevant provisions of the Central government’s Removal of Licensing Requirements, Stock Limits and Movement Restrictions on Specified Foodstuffs Order, 2016, insofar as the new State-specific stock restrictions are concerned.

Published - November 14, 2026 12:02 am IST