Government to check quality, quantity of cooking oil and ghee

The government has decided to check the quality and quantity of cooking oil and ghee saying that some manufacturers were not adhering to the standards, it is learnt.
A document available with the Business Recorder shows that the Ministry of Industries and Production has written a letter to Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturers Association (PVMA) on June 14, informing it of countrywide checking the observance of standard for manufacturing of cooking oil/ghee from June 16.
An official of the Ministry said that the PSQCA had been assigned the job but it might take some time to come up with its report. He said that some manufacturers were not following the standard while unorganised sector had been marketing substandard oil/ghee with branded stamps.
There are 110 ghee and oil processing units and 40 extractors but only few of them were ISO certified, he added.
However, the question arises as to why there was no mechanism in place to check the quality standard of not only ghee/oil but every edible item on daily basis. It was the responsibility of the government to place quality checking on permanent basis.
The Ministry, if knows that some people are supplying low quality ghee/oil, should have taken immediate action to check supply in the market.
Referring the issue to the PSQCA means that the Ministry has absolved itself from the responsibility and adulterers have been given more time to continue their supply in the market, as the PSQCA may take quite a long time in compiling and submitting its report.
Still it is not sure whether or not any action would be taken against manufacturers involved in adulteration even after receiving a report by the PSQCA.
The Ministry in its letter has requested the PVMA to kindly ensure observance of standard as the government has decided to check the manufacturing standards of cooking oil/ghee from June 16, 2007.
The ministry has clearly pointed out that it was observed that some cooking oil/ghee manufacturers are not conforming to the manufacturing standard set by PSQCA.
These non-conformities, it said included non-fulfilment of standard requirement specified for quality, packing quantities, packing materials and marking etc. These non-conformities resulted in confusion and quality concern amongst the general public and is also against the national quality policy of the government.
In order to ensure the observance of the standards, the Ministry said that the government had decide to take strict action against cooking oil/Banaspati manufacturers, who are not fulfilling the standards requirements.