No GST on food items when sold loose, clarifies FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday said the mass consumption items such as pulses, wheat, rice, flour, and curd will not attract the 5 per cent goods and services tax (GST) when sold loose, and not pre-packed or pre-labelled. The clarification came amid protests and widespread criticism by Oppo¬sition Members of Parliament over foisting GST on daily-use essentials and subsequent price rise.

The all-powerful GST Council, chaired by the Union minister, had last month decided to impose GST on some mass consumption items to simplify the rate structure, which came into effect on Monday.

In a series of tweets,