27/12/2007 (The Hindu), New Delhi - In a move aimed at protecting the coconut farmers in Kerala, the Centre has banned import of palm group of oils through the ports of the state.

Crude palm oil, refined, bleached and de-odorised palmolein and other grades of the commodity are not permitted for imports through the ports of Kerala, the Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification.

The move by the Centre follows after a drastic fall in prices of coconut oil.

Earlier on October 16, the government had barred import of palm group of oils through Kochi port. The decision was challenged in Kerala High Court, which finally allowed the ban to continue.

The edible oil industry feels that the government should have considered other options than banning palm oil imports through Kerala ports.

"We empathise with the plight of coconut growers in Kerala. However, barring palm oil imports would not solve their problems," Mumbai-based Solvent Extractors Association of India (SEA) Executive Director B V Mehta told PTI.

This type of selective step does not fit in the framework of a free market economy and merely adds to the cost of cooking oil to the consumer and is not in the public interest, he said.

Ruling out any impact on overall imports, he said imports would continue through other ports of the country.