SOPA urges curbs on imports soyabean & palmolein

Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA) has urged the government to stop the illegal import of refined soyabean oil and palmolein from Nepal at zero customs duty. This concession, which is given to least developed nations in the SAARC region is proving detrimental to the interests of the domestic producers.

SOPA points out that palmolein imported from Nepal is of Malaysian and Indonesian origin, while soyabean oil is of South American origin, routed via Nepal. This breaks the ‘Rules of Origin’ for obtaining the duty exemption for such imports, as per the organization.