Chinese cooking oil scandal prompts new safety rules for transporting products

China to adopt regulations in wake of investigation finding dirty fuel tanks were used to carry vegetable oil, but public still sceptical

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China is drafting rules about the types of containers that may be used for transporting cooking oil following a food safety controversy that rocked the nation. Photo: Future Publishing via Getty Images

Phoebe Zhangin Shenzhen

Published: 9:00pm, 30 Aug 2024

China is drafting national standards for transporting cooking oil in the aftermath of a scandal that shook the nation.

Last week, food safety regulators said that following an investigation, two drivers were arrested and three companies penalised for using unclean fuel tanks to transport cooking oil, a practice that had been reported on by news outlets. The regulators said that aside from this case, they “did not find any similar problems”.

The new rules, proposed by the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration on Tuesday, are open for public feedback until Sunday.

China is a major consumer of vegetable oil and has a great need for oil transport, according to the draft. In 2023, the entire country consumed a total of 39 million tonnes of oil. In the wake of the scandal, the State Council, China’s cabinet, has asked for timely industry regulations, it said.

The draft states that specific containers must be used for transporting cooking oil, and non-edible oil cans should not be used. The quality of the cans should meet the standards set by China’s food safety laws. Furthermore, transport records must be checked, and the cans need to be cleaned periodically with specific types of detergent and water.

The draft did not contain clauses stipulating the consequences if parties fail to meet the requirements.

Food safety regulators launched the investigation shortly after The Beijing News published a report in July claiming it was an “open secret” in the transport industry that tanker trucks were used to carry cooking oil and chemicals – without being cleaned between loads.