Breaking News-DJ- India Govt Cos Halt Edible Oil Imports As Local Prices Fall

NEW DELHI (Dow Jones)--India''s government agenices have halted imports of edible oils for a government-run program with immediate effect after a fall in local prices and due to a poor response to the program from provinces, a senior food ministry official said Monday.

"We have decided to stop imports at the moment. There will be no imports until (domestic) prices remain low," said the official, who didn''t wish to be named.

The official said government agencies have purchased 360,000 metric tons of edible oils since mid-April for the subsidized sale program, leading to sharp fall of 18%-20% in domestic prices.