Zambia suspends importation of cooking oil

0
Cooking oil shown at a WFP distribution centre in Syria. Photo: WFP/Dina Elkassaby
Cooking oil shown at a WFP distribution centre in Syria. Photo: WFP/Dina Elkassaby

The Zambian government has suspended the issuance of licenses for importation of edible oil, the Zambia Daily Mail reported on Friday.

Cooking oil shown at a WFP distribution centre in Syria. Photo: WFP/Dina Elkassaby
Cooking oil shown at a WFP distribution centre in Syria. Photo: WFP/Dina Elkassaby

Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Given Lubinda said the decision has been taken to allow experts to study the impact of the importation of vegetable oil has on the Zambian market.
The Zambian minister said his office has received complaints from Zambian producers, manufacturers and consumers that the country has been flooded with imported oil, adding that the study will be made public as soon as investigations are concluded.
“This decision has been made to allow experts from the ministries of finance, commerce and the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to study the impact the importation of vegetable oil has on the Zambian market,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.
Last week, local producers of edibles oils complained that cheap imported oil had flooded the country and threatened their existence. The producers asked the government to intervene.
The investors said if un-checked, the third country imports will not only negatively affect the growth of the sub-sector, but also the seed-based primary agriculture such as soya beans, sunflower and cotton seed production through backward linkages and the poultry industry through sideways linkages.
The producers said imported oil is being smuggled into the country with the wrong declaration of quantities and value, which is unfair to the local producers who pay all the legitimate duties and taxes for the commodity. Enditem

Source: Xinhua

Send your news stories to [email protected] Follow News Ghana on Google News

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here