Discuss 'essential commodities' under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.

Section 2A of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 dealing with Essential commodities declaration, etc. defines the "essential commodity" as to mean a commodity specified in the Schedule. Schedule to the Act lists out following commodities: drugs: The explanation clarifies that for the purposes of this Schedule, "drugs" has the meaning assigned to it in clause (b) of Section 3 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940; fertilizer, whether inorganic, organic or mixed; foodstuffs, including edible oilseeds and oils; hank yarn made wholly from cotton; petroleum and petroleum products; raw jute and jute textiles; seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables; seeds of cattle fodder; and jute seeds.