Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Philippines bans milk imports from China (2:05 p.m.)
MANILA -- Officials say the Philippines has banned all milk imports from China as a precaution against the spread of contaminated baby formula that has killed four and sickened more than 53,000 Chinese infants.
A Tuesday order by Bureau of Food and Drugs chief Leticia Barbara Gutierrez says the temporary ban on importation, distribution, and sale of China-made milk products has been imposed "in the interest of protecting public health and welfare."
She says her office has no record of baby formula imports from China, but advised consumers not to buy infant milk that might have entered the country from China illegally.
The industrial chemical melamine has been found in infant formula and other milk products from 22 of China's dairy companies. (AP) |
