SRI LANKA—The Sri Lankan government announced that it would empower the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) to regulate the quality of imported edible oils, including coconut and palm oil.
This decision follows the Cabinet’s approval of a proposal by Minister of Plantations Mahinda Amaraweera to safeguard the local coconut oil industry and ensure the quality of both domestically produced and imported oils.
Minister Amaraweera emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “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.”
The move comes in response to growing apprehensions regarding the adulteration of coconut oil with other edible oils, a practice that has raised significant consumer concerns.
Sri Lanka lacks a robust mechanism to verify the quality of imported coconut oil and locally produced varieties.
The Cabinet paper presented by Amaraweera included insights from several ministries, including Agriculture, Health, Trade, and Consumer Protection, highlighting the issue’s multifaceted nature.
According to the statement, Sri Lanka consumes approximately 240,000 metric tons of coconut oil annually, of which only 40,000 metric tons are produced locally.
The remaining oil is often mixed with substitute oils before being marketed as coconut oil, complicating the quality assurance process for consumers.
To address these challenges, the Cabinet proposed that all medium-scale coconut oil factories producing up to 0.5 metric tons daily register with the CDA.
Once these factories implement good manufacturing practices and obtain certification, the CDA will issue a seal of approval for their products.
This regulatory framework aims to enhance consumer trust and ensure that the available coconut oil meets established quality standards.
The CDA will also oversee importers, refiners, packers, stockists, distributors, and traders of edible oils who fail to comply with the regulations outlined in the Consolidated Gazette.
“Recognized laboratories should verify the quality of imported palm oils,” Amaraweera noted, emphasising the need for stringent quality checks across the supply chain.
Additionally, all retailers selling edible coconut and palm oils must register with the CDA, further ensuring market accountability.
This initiative is particularly critical given the rising health concerns associated with low-quality edible oils.
By granting the CDA these enhanced powers, the government aims to create a more transparent and reliable coconut oil market, protecting consumers and local producers.
The authority will now be able to regulate the quantity and quality of imported coconut oil, thereby addressing the industry’s long-standing issues of adulteration and mislabeling.
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