India, Sept. 24 -- The Government has reduced the Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on major imported crude edible oils to moderate domestic prices and provide relief to consumers amid a sharp rise in international edible oil prices.

The BCD on crude sunflower oil has been reduced from 10 per cent to nil, while the duty on crude soybean oil and crude palm oil has been cut from 10 per cent to 5 per cent.

The Government has also reduced the applicable BCD on the respective refined edible oils while maintaining an import duty differential of 19.25 per cent between crude and refined edible oils.

The duty rationalisation takes into account the increase in international edible oil prices and the resulting rise in domestic landed costs and retail pri...