Table oil hazards exposed

Oil Protection warns: most oil on market does not comply with quality standards

The National Committee for the Protection of Oil and the Association of Consumers said that much of the table oil products traded in the local market do not comply with the standards of quality.

The two organizations said that they have made their conclusion after having 85 samples of commercial oil, most of which imported, tested in laboratories abroad.

The two organizations called the government to ban the import of olive oil starting the month of October, during the seasons of good olive produce. They also called for an exemption of olive oil from all trade agreements, and for altering the specifications for olive oil production. They also asked the government to support the olive oil sector through buying half of the local produce each year.

The Ministry of Agriculture had issued new labeling regulations for the manufacturing of olive oil earlier this month, shortly after declaring that several olive oil brands on the market were proved to be containing toxic chemicals.