The optimum conditions were developed for the quantitative recovery of organochlorine pesticide residues in palm oil using a commercial sweep co-distillation apparatus. Under the optimum conditions (245^oC distillation temperature, 250 ml min ^-1 nitrogen flow rate, 45 min sweep time) and using a trap packed with sodium sulphate and partially deactivated Florisil, the recoveries of 14 organochlorine pesticide residues at ppm and ppb levels in a spiked oil matrix were> 80%, with coefficients of variation ranging from 5.6% – 9.9%. However, the recovery for endrin ketone was below 80% with a coefficient of variation of 8.5%. The cleaned-up extracts were quantified by gas chromatography using a micro-electron capture detector with a fused silica capillary column containing a non-polar bonded phase.