The Directorate of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection in Tartus has set operational guidelines for olive oil presses during the current season to ensure weighing accuracy, oil quality, and safety, while protecting the rights of farmers and consumers.
Technical and Administrative Guidelines
The Directorate published a set of guidelines and instructions for press owners on its Facebook page today, Monday, including adherence to prices, service fees, and oil percentages specified by competent authorities, with clear public disclosure, periodic calibration of scales, and maintenance of accurate records of pressing operations.
The technical requirements included adjusting centrifugal machines to ensure that the residual oil percentage in dry pomace does not exceed 8 percent, hydraulic press machines do not exceed 11 percent, oil content in wastewater does not exceed 0.5 percent, and total solid matter does not exceed 7 percent.
Supervisory Measures
The Directorate also emphasized the necessity of maintaining press cleanliness and equipment, proper disposal of wastewater, using containers compliant with food standards for oil storage, adhering to health and environmental conditions, and preventing fraud and manipulation at all stages of production.
As part of monitoring the implementation of these guidelines, the Directorate conducted a supervisory tour in the countryside of the governorate today, resulting in the seizure of an olive press for using a scale that provided inaccurate readings leading to weight shortages.
Sami Suleiman, head of the Legal Metrology Division at the Directorate, told SANA in a statement that the tour included calibrating scales and verifying their compliance with approved standards, affirming the continuation of supervision and taking legal action against violators to protect the rights of farmers and consumers.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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