the Association says the oils should be investigate to ensure the required standards are upheld in order to safeguard the health and safety of consumers in the country/FILE
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 23- Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has urged the government to reconsider the release of the controversial Sh10 billion Edible Oil into the Kenyan market until it is tested and found fit for human consumption.
In a statement, the Association says the oils should be investigate to ensure the required standards are upheld in order to safeguard the health and safety of consumers in the country.
“We have written to the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, CS Peter Munya, and requested him to reconsider this decision especially in light of the health and safety concerns of all citizens,” reads the statement.
Last week, the National Assembly Committee on Trade stopped the release of the 500 containers of edible oil, after Trade Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya allowed their release without condition, saying government conducted investigations and found the oil fit for human consumption.
The committee, which is led by Kanini Kega, said the impounded consignment should not be released until they are subjected to a fresh round of test by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
Already at least 58 containers have been released.
The Sh10 billion cooking oil consignment was impounded by detectives last year, after Kenya Bureau of Standards said the edible oil was not fortified with Vitamin A and would be harmful to consumers.
“We got a wind that some containers, which were seized last year containing edible oil, have been released into the local market. We know for sure, that the Bureau had said the imported edible oil did not meet a certain threshold, hence could not be released into the market,” Kega said when he led the House team to tour freight stations where the containers are stored.
Earlier this month, Munya told importers wanting to sell the edible oil lacking fortification to label it as such.
“This is a multi-agency decision. The decision was made to release the products to all traders. We could not release the oils to small traders and leave the others out,” Munya said.
