Govt adds 23 food items to STO bulk import list
According to the ministry, STO has now been instructed to import and distribute the newly listed items at wholesale rates.
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The government has expanded the list of basic food items to be imported and sold in bulk by State Trading Organisation (STO), adding 23 products including apples and oranges.
The Ministry of Economic Development and Trade announced the decision on Sunday in a post on X, following concerns over rising fruit prices. Apple and orange prices recently increased by MVR 12.
According to the ministry, STO has now been instructed to import and distribute the newly listed items at wholesale rates.
The expanded list includes:
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Fruits (10 types): apples, oranges, bananas, lemons, mangoes, papayas, chillies, and others.
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Vegetables (10 types): onions, ginger, carrots, lettuce, garlic, eggplant, and others.
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Other food items (3 types): chicken, coconut, and dhal.
Some of these products are already imported by STO and sold wholesale to retailers. The new directive formalises their inclusion as essential goods for bulk import and distribution.
