CAA still conducting tests for carcinogenic coconut oil

Colombo (News 1st); Sri Lanka's Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said it is still conducting tests on suspected carcinogenic coconut oil imported to the country.

"Samples were obtained from all districts," said one CAA officer while the Director-General of the CAA said samples were also obtained from all coconut oil brands available in the Sri Lankan market. The Consumer Affairs Authority said it has called for the reports to be made available soon, in response to allegations that the reports would be only be received after the festive season. The Sri Lanka Standards Institute on the 29th of March said tests confirmed that coconut oil imported by three of the four importers was substandard and their consignment is in three shipping containers. An order was made thereafter to re-export these consignments. In a surprising move, Sri Lanka Customs released the consignments to the importers themselves, rather than moving them to Sri Lanka Customs or their bonded warehouses. The Director-General of Customs said this decision was made as Sri Lanka Customs did not possess sufficient storage space. At the same time, the Dankotuwa Police seized two tanker trucks said to contain suspected carcinogenic coconut oil and released them to Sri Lanka Customs by directly disregarding a court order not to do so. The Marawila Magistrate reprimanded Sri Lanka Police for its conduct and called for an immediate report on the matter from the Dankotuwa Police Officer-in-Charge.