Bulk containers used to transport vegetable oil in China must be for food use only and clearly labelled as such from February, according to new national regulations introduced in response to a cooking oil scandal earlier this year.
Under hygiene standards released last month by the State Administration for Market Regulation, cooking oil cannot be shipped in containers that have been used for non-food products. Cooking oil tanks must also be labelled “designated for edible oil” or “designated for food”.
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China launches high-level probe after paper says fuel tankers used to carry cooking oil
China launches high-level probe after paper says fuel tankers used to carry cooking oil
The changes follow an investigation by The Beijing News, which reported in July that unclean fuel tanks had been used to transport cooking oil from a subsidiary of state-owned Sinograin and the private Hopefull Grain and Oil Group.
The report said it was “an open secret” in the industry for cooking oil to be transported in fuel tanks without prior cleaning, prompting a public outcry and a state-level investigation.
In a report in August, investigators from the State Council, China’s cabinet, described the incident as “extremely severe in nature”, “violating basic common sense, trampling on moral and legal boundaries, and a typical example of illegal and criminal behaviour that must be severely punished”.
According to the investigators, one of the trucks in the Beijing News report was carrying 35.91 tonnes of Sinograin cooking oil, including 11 tonnes used for animal food.
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