Asean opposes EU vegoil limits

Asean opposes EU vegoil limits

Dow Jones, Manila

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will oppose efforts by the European Union to curb exports of vegetable oils and fats from Asia using food hygiene restrictions, Philippine Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor said Tuesday.

Asean Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry agreed last week during a meeting in Indonesia to formally oppose proposed E.U. restrictions on the transportation of edible oils and fats.

Asean will ask the European Union Commission to rescind a proposed directive requiring edible oils to be transported in dedicated tanks and vessels to prevent contamination, Montemayor said.

If the directive is approved, he said, exporters of edible oils and fats would face difficulty in finding dedicated tanks and vessels and incur higher freight charges, making their products more expensive and less competitive.

"The Philippines can't take this sitting down. Along with Asean, we will muster enough support from friendly nations just so this directive will not be carried out," Montemayor said.

Under current practices, these foodstuffs are loaded in specific compartments of vessels whose prior loads are internationally recognized as acceptable.

The directive is contained in a draft code of hygienic practice for the transportation of food in bulk and semi-packed food, which Europe sponsored and submitted to the Codex Alimentarius Commission, or CAC, for approval.

The CAC is a world body that sets and regulates food and agricultural standards.

In July, the CAC said dedicated transport wasn't normal practice in the transportation of edible fats and oil.

Despite the setback, the E.U. Commission continues to lobby for adoption of the directive, insisting the move is a hygienic measure against possible food contamination.