Myanmar has to import about 70 percent of edible oil despite mass production in the past, said Deputy Minister for Commerce Aung Htoo.

The number of oil mills in the country's industrial zones has been falling, and about 70 percent of cooking oil has to be imported now.

The deputy minister blamed the decreasing number of oil mills for consumption of imported low-priced edible oil among public members. He also pointed out that public health could be harmed due to consumption of locally-made groundnut and sesame oils mixed with imported edible oil.

The deputy minister stressed the need to reduce production cost so that local peanut and sesame oils can compete with foreign cooking oil market, increase raw materials and production of local cooking oil. He added that the production of animal feedstuffs by local oil mills would contribute to production of domestic products.