India - Soon, your car will run on used cooking oil

The government has taken a clue from United States and Europe, where 75 % of used cooking oil is recycled to produce bio-diesel, and decided to have a similar frame-work for Indian eateries. As the first step in this direction, the ministry of new and renewable energy has asked the National Food Safety and Standard Authority (NFSSA) to prescribe standards and regulations for use of cooking oils.

India does not have any standard prescribing till when the cooking oil can be reused. It, thereby, prevents government agencies from taking penal action against eateries reusing bad quality cooking oil, which can be harmful for one’s health.

“Food cooked in oil reused has adverse impact on one’s health,” a senior government official said. But, the same oil can becoming environment friendly if re-processed and converted into bio-diesel. “Around 28 % of the European logistics trucks run on biodiesel,” the official said.

India can do the same provided the government sets up a mechanism for collecting the used cooking oil and refineries for converting it into bio-diesel. “Work has already started on achieving this ambitious target,” the official said.