Aiming to stop sale of loose edible oil in the domestic market, the government is going to ban the transportation of edible oil through drums from March, next year.
Such a decision is being taken to stop the deception of unscrupulous traders and safeguard the consumer’s interests. It was learnt that sometimes traders marketed plam or other oil in the name of packed edible (soybean) oil, which is dangerous for public health.
The decision to ban use of drums for transporting edible oil by the oil refiners is expected to come into effect from March 16, 2022, said an industries ministry official.
"The ministry has already formed a committee to ban the transportation of edible oil through drums by 2022 aiming to ensure its marketing in packaged forms in the country," said Additional Secretary (Quality Control and Business Facility) Sheikh Faezul Amin, Ministry of Industries.
The committee will report to the industries ministry every week, he added.
The 11-member panel will closely monitor the drum management of the country's refiners and others concerned over the country.
At present, palm oil is sold in an unpacked format while around 70 per cent soybean oil in both packed and unpacked forms while only 35 per cent in PET bottle format.
As soybean oil will be sold in plastic packs and PET bottles only, it can be easily differentiated from palm oil, said sources.
Talking to the Bangladesh Post Sheikh Faezul Amin said, “Some traders are selling palm oil or other edible oil in the name of soybean oil. We've made the move to ensure genuine oil consumption."
PET (also abbreviated PETE) is short for polyethylene terephthalate, the chemical name for polyester. Polyethylene terephthalate is the most common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods, and thermoforming for manufacturing, and in combination with glass fibre for engineering resins.
Earlier, the industries ministry had sought the commerce ministry's opinion regarding a proposed provision that no more soybean oil be sold in an unpacked format.
As per the new decision, edible oil must be sold under a brand name and will have a mandatory certificate from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).
According to the Bangladesh Bank, country’s annual edible oil import is estimated to be 2.2 million tonnes.
