Sri Lanka re-exports 230 MT of coconut oil with Aflatoxin

COLOMBO (News 1st); 230 Metric Tonnes of imported coconut oil with Aflatoxin were shipped off Sri Lanka on Saturday (08), said Sri Lanka Customs.

The coconut oil consignment in questioned was moved from a storage facility in 12 freight containers to South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd at the Colombo Port on the 30th of April. Sri Lanka Customs said the 12 freight containers were shipped off Sri Lanka aboard the container shipped known as the "Ever Ethic" which sailed to Malaysia on Saturday (08) night. The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) on Friday (May 07) issued an extraordinary gazette stating that Coconut oil used for cooking purposes CANNOT be mixed with any other oil. “Acting under the powers vested in it by Section 10(1)(b)(ii) of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act, No. 09 of 2003, the Consumer Affairs Authority hereby directs all importers, refiners, manufacturers, stockists, packers, distributors and traders of edible Coconut oil sold in bulk or in retail in bottles or packs or containers that such edible Coconut oil shall NOT be blended with any other oils or oil,” the extra-gazette read. The extraordinary gazette issued under the provisions of the Consumer Affairs Authority Act No. 09 of 2003 comes into effect from the 7th of May 2021.