USSEC Technical Issues Director Kim Nill recently provided information and data as an assurance that U.S. soybean oil is safe and that it conveys certain health benefits additional to those of sunflower oil.  Mr. Nill provided this information in response to a request for assistance from the U.S. Agricultural Counselor in Cairo.  A misimpression arose at a recent meeting of a Codex committee when the Egyptian Minister of Supply and Internal Trade responsible for the procurement of foodstuffs for the poor indicated an intention for his Ministry to preferentially purchase sunflower oil instead of soybean oil in the future.  Codex Alimentarius is a multilateral organization under the auspices of the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO); its committees develop science-based standards to help World Trade Organization (WTO) member nations facilitate trade by achieving greater predictability in international food/feed regulations.

The U.S. Agricultural Counselor will utilize the information provided by USSEC in his efforts to address the concerns of the Egyptian Minister of Supply and Internal Trade.