Food companies have massively replaced the ingredient sunflower oil with rapeseed oil, the FPS Economy stated in the margins of the Agricultural Fair in Libramont. The war in Ukraine caused a shortage of sunflower oil, an important ingredient in many processed food products. It appears that the switch was mainly to rapeseed oil, and to a much lesser extent to rapeseed lecithin, soy lecithin or palm oil.
Companies that could have also adjusted their labeling, but that is certainly not the case with every company yet. Since 3 May, the FPS Economy has provided for an exception procedure for sunflower oil, which is valid for six months. Companies may continue to sell their products without changing the label, provided they inform the customer in an alternative way (about the replacement of sunflower oil). The food companies must also report to the FPS Economy via a special platform.
On Saturday it was said that this exceptional measure will “very likely” be extended after November 3. Although there are positive signs about the sunflower harvest in Europe, the conflict in Ukraine is still ongoing.
Moreover, the FPS Economy does not rule out the possibility that there will be exception procedures for other products. “We are seeing signals in Germany and the Netherlands about a maize starch shortage. And we are also concerned about red fruit, 80 percent of which comes from Ukraine,” said Henk De Pauw of the FPS Economy.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Clarinval (MR) was also present in Libramont on Saturday, where he looked back on the functioning of the task force Ukraine. It was set up after the Russian invasion at the end of February, bringing together the various actors in the food chain (producers, processors, distribution). The task force formulated a series of support measures. “I don’t think they will make it all, we have to be reasonable,” said Minister Clarinval on Saturday. “But I’m optimistic and think some will be approved. Measures have already been taken, for example in the field of energy.”
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