CAA to test for substandard oil in market

COLOMBO (News1st): The Consumer Affairs Authority has instructed district officials to obtain five samples of coconut oil from each district to test for substandard products. This was after the Sri Lanka Standards Institute revealed that the oil sample of one of the four importers who imported coconut oil to the country was below standard. The Sri Lanka Standards Institute said that 13 containers of coconut oil have been sealed with the intervention of the Customs Department. "The importers responsible for importing the sub-standard oil should be instructed to re-export the consignments of oil," State Minister Nimal Lanza said. However, Arundika Fernando, another state minister opined that the harmful stocks must be destroyed instead of being re-exported. "I assure the general public that the stocks of substandard oil have not been released to the market," he said. Opposition lawmaker J.C. Alawathuwala pointed out that local oil producers have been affected as importers continue to bring down consignments under low tax rates. "Locally produced coconut oil is more expensive than the imported ones. This is similar to the sugar scam," he said.