PALMOILMAGAZINE, KYIV – In Ukraine, discussions arose about a potential palm oil ban after media reports cited misinformation related to a new food regulation. However, Stepan Kapshuk, Director of the Ukroliaprom Association, clarified that there would be no ban on palm oil usage in Ukraine. The primary focus of the new regulation is to limit trans fats in food products.
Kapshuk noted that debates around a palm oil ban tend to resurface every five years but are often misinterpreted. “The actual restriction targets hydrogenated fats, which are a primary source of trans fats,” he stated, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from DairyNews.today on Tuesday, October 15, 2024.
Trans fats are known to pose health risks and have already been restricted by national sanitation regulations. In line with global standards, Ukraine has set a maximum limit of 2 grams of trans fats per 100 grams of product. Similar measures are reflected in the European Union Deforestation Regulation, which imposes strict standards on export products, including sugar.
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Kapshuk further explained that, following discussions since 2021, the new regulation does not specifically target palm oil. “The regulation focuses on trans fat content and labeling requirements, particularly for dairy products and infant foods,” he clarified. This measure aims to ensure transparency on product labels, specifying if vegetable oils are present and clearly listing them on packaging.
One significant point that Kapshuk said was the misinformation that some media informed about the act. He emphasized the the act would cover ‘milk and milk products’ and ‘foods for baby’. It did not regulate about palm oil but the close limit in trans – fat. The products that contained of vegetable oils, including palm oil would be allowed (to trade) as long as they have label and would not be used in the products that based on milk traditionally, such as, cheese and butter.
Kapshuk also said that the producers in Ukraine have turned over from the fully hydrogenation to the partial interesterification. “This would enable the producers to use/apply vegetable oils without producing trans – fat which is dangerous,” he said. The ban, even though it would be close, would be the same with the practices in many neighborhood countries, such as, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus.
Even though the trans – fat would be limited, palm oil imports to Ukraine would keep running. But Kapshuk acknowledged that the logistic challenges because of the war would restrict palm oil import volumes. “Food production in Ukraine got decreased and palm oil imports would be about 100.000 tons per year,” he said. Most of palm oil imports were from the ports in Rotterdam, Kazakhstan, and Turkey and spent the increasing logistic costs.
In the future, he did not consider that there would be the increasing palm oil imports significantly and Ukraine would be more stable. But for palm oil would be important to get global scale food production, namely for its consistency in solid room temperature, he emphasized palm oil ban in Ukraine would be not realistic. “Palm oil helped to minimize trans – fat and make it more valuable in food industries,” he said.
Kapshuk would emphasized even though there would be close regulation about trans – fat, palm oil would be the important commodity in food production, namely sugar, and bread in the country. (P2)
