The Federal Board of Revenue has taken action on a report of the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs) exposing unscrupulous importers involved in import of banned and used cooking oil, by misdeclaring it as residue of fatty acids or acid oils, and freely supply for consumption in preparing food items - knowing the commodity is injurious to health.
Sources told Business Recorder on Saturday that the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs) has confirmed the viewpoint of ghee/cooking oil industry on the illegal import of banned and used cooking oil which is subsequently marketed, after a little bleaching, etc, as cooking oil/vegetable ghee for use in low quality junk foods, etc. The commodity is poisonous and seriously injurious to public health, but abundantly available in local markets on prices less than the landed cost of even crude edible oil.
The Directorate General I&I-FBR has asked the FBR to implement the proposal of the documented industry that import of the commodity should not be allowed in drums to minimise chances of misdeclaration and that bulk import of residue of fatty acids/soap stocks, etc, should be restricted to industrial concerns only i.e. recognised manufacturers of soap and oleo chemicals. The board is requested to approach Ministry of Commerce for imposition of proposed restrictions in the IPO, directorate added.
According to the report of the Directorate General of Intelligence and Investigation (Customs) to the FBR, Pakistan Vanaspati Manufactures Association (PVMA) have informed that Used Cooking Oil which is banned for import, is being imported by certain unscrupulous importers by misdeclaring it as Residue of Fatty Acids (PCT 1522.0090) or Acid Oils (PCT 3823.1990). Reportedly, the commodity is subsequently marketed, after a little bleaching, etc, as Cooking Oil / Vegetable Ghee and is being used in low quality junk foods, etc. The commodity is poisonous and seriously injurious to public health and the same is abundantly available in local markets on prices less than the landed cost of even crude edible oil. It is generally imported in used and rusty iron steel drums.
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