ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka will give its Coconut Development Authority powers to regulate the quality of imported edible oils such as coconut and palm oil, a government statement said.
Minister of Plantations Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said his proposal to empower the CDA received Cabinet approval.
This was “To protect the coconut oil industry in Sri Lanka, to ascertain the quality of coconut oil produced in the country, and to regulate the quality of imported oil”.
Concerns have been raised that coconut oil is being adulterated with other edible oils imported into Sri Lanka and sent to the market.
Sri Lanka has no mechanism to confirm the quality of imported coconut oil and other edible oils, or coconut oil produced locally.
The Cabinet Paper was presented with observations from several ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industry, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Safety, the Ministry of Industry, and the Consumer Protection Authority, Amaraweera said.
Of the 240,000 metric ton annual consumption of coconut oil in the country, 40,000 metric tons are produced locally while the rest is mixed with substitute oil and released to the market as coconut oil, the statement said.
“Due to this, consumers have an issue in identifying good quality oil.” The Cabinet paper proposed that all medium-scale coconut oil factories producing up to 0.5 metric tons of coconut oil a day register with the Coconut Development Authority.
Once they implement good manufacturing practices and obtain a certificate, the CDA will provide a seal confirming this for their products.
The Coconut Development Authority is empowered to regulate importers, refiners, packers, stockists, distributors and traders of edible oil who do not follow the provisions of the Consolidated Gazette not to mix other types of oil with coconut oil.
“The quality of imported palm oils should be verified by recognized laboratories. All retailers selling edible coconut and palm oils should also obtain registration from the Coconut Development Authority.”
CDA also has the power to regulate the quantity and quality of imported coconut oil, Amaraweera was quoted as saying. “This step was taken in consideration of the concerns about the quality of coconut oil and other edible oils currently sold in the market as well as the health and safety of the public.” (Colombo/Sep5/2024)