Rif Dimashq Tightens Oversight on Olive Presses to Ensure Quality
The Internal Trade and Consumer Protection Directorate in Rif Dimashq has launched a series of inspection campaigns targeting olive presses across the governorate. These measures coincide with the start of the current olive pressing season, which began on October 20.
The initiative is part of government efforts to regulate production processes, ensuring that press owners adhere to the official pricing set for pressing services. Furthermore, the inspections aim to verify that the olive oil produced and the processing byproducts meet established technical and health standards.
Abd al-Salam Khalid, Director of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection in Rif Dimashq, stated that a joint committee has been formed to oversee these operations. This committee includes representatives from the ministries of Industry, Agriculture, and Internal Trade and Consumer Protection, as well as the Ministry of Local Administration and Environment and the Directorate of Water Resources. The committee is tasked with monitoring the operations of the presses and verifying compliance with required professional and technical standards throughout the season.
Rif Dimashq is home to approximately 26 olive presses. Currently, five are inactive, while others are in the process of preparing to receive the harvest. Khalid confirmed that inspection teams are continuously collecting periodic samples of the produced olive oil, as well as samples of “jeft” water (the liquid byproduct of the pressing process) and “peerin” (solid olive pomace), to be subjected to laboratory analysis at specialized facilities.
These procedures are designed to monitor production lines within the presses, ensuring the cleanliness of equipment and compliance with authorized health and technical conditions to guarantee the quality of the final oil product. The director noted that specialized teams are documenting violations according to existing laws and regulations should any irregularities regarding quality standards or price manipulation be discovered. These actions are intended to ensure production safety and protect the rights of both farmers and consumers against potential fraud.
This intensified oversight is part of a broader strategy to enhance supply controls in Syrian governorates during agricultural seasons. The objective is to ensure market stability, prevent the exploitation of farmers, and maintain the reputation of Syrian olive oil as one of the country’s most significant strategic agricultural products.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
