Development of Criteria for Acceptable Previous Cargoes for Fats and Oils

Book excerpt: There are insufficient sea-going vessels reserved for the transport of foodstuffs to cater for the expanding trade in fats and oils intended for, or likely to be used for, human consumption, and it is both impractical and uneconomic to expect sea-going bulk tankers to return empty to their original port of lading. A practical solution adopted by the industry involves the bulk transport of fats and oils in tanks that are not exclusively reserved for the transport of foodstuffs. This practice means that many chemicals are potential previous cargoes to edible fats and oils. Efforts are ongoing to ensure these cargoes are not contaminated with previous ones and FAO and WHO are currently working on the provision of advice on the establishment of criteria for substances to be included in the Codex List of Acceptable Previous Cargoes - this technical meeting was called so that all relevant matters would be considered.