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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Milk from China being banned
MANILA -- Government ordered a ban on all infant formula and milk products from China on Tuesday and placed all container vans loaded with milk products from China on hold.
In a public health advisory released Monday, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) central office clarified there was no registered infant formula imported into the country.
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"Consumers are advised not to purchase and use outright infant formula from China that might have been brought into the county through unauthorized means," stated the health advisory.
The advisory also directed all licensed importers and distributors of registered milk products sourced from China to "stop temporarily from further importing, distributing, selling and offering for sale" any milk products.
Recent testing found melamine in samples of liquid milk taken from 22 Chinese companies, including the country's two largest dairy producers, Mengniu Dairy Group Co. and Yili Industrial Group Co. This prompted nationwide recalls of milk and dairy products.
Melamine, an industrial chemical used to make plastics and fertilizer, can cause kidney stones and lead to kidney failure.
Many countries -- including Singapore, Taiwan, Brunei, Vietnam and the Philippines -- have followed suit with restrictions on food with Chinese dairy. The limits covered everything from yogurt bars to strawberry milk, biscuits and candy.
BFAD also advised local officials nationwide to conduct investigation on infant formula and milk products manufactured in China that might have been brought into the country through unauthorized means.
At the same time, Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales ordered all district collectors in 17 ports to hold the release of all container vans loaded with milk products imported from China.
"All milk products from China are on hold pending laboratory testing and clearance by the BFAD. We have to safeguard the health of the public," said Morales.
Likewise, the bureau chief directed the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service to strictly monitor all incoming shipments of milk products.
The health department conducted inspections in supermarkets nationwide.
In Davao City, milk products from China were discovered during an inspection in one of the wet markets.
BFAD in Central Visayas found one store with unmarked milk in downtown Cebu and asked it to stop selling the product, until lab tests confirm it's safe to consume.
So far, no melamine-contaminated milk has been found in Central Visayas, but BFAD Central Visayas asked the public to choose carefully.
"Look at the labels, the name of the manufacturer and where the product came from," advised food and drugs regulation officer Grace Cardona.
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Central Visayas Director Asteria Caberte also asked the public, in a radio report, not to buy milk products that are repacked or have no labels.
"As of today, especially for milk products, we advise the public not to buy the products from China," said Cardona, although she added there are "no importers of Chinese milk products in Region 7 (Central Visayas)."
But while importers are required to procure licenses to bring these products into the country, Cardona said there were other, illegal means for China-made milk products to enter the region.
In Cagayan de Oro, a joint team from the Department of Health (DOH) and BFAD found no milk products from China in the shelves and bodegas of local stores since they began the inspection early this week.
Moreover, the DTI in Northern Mindanao denied Tuesday they were the source of SMS messages circulating in Cagayan de Oro City mentioning specific products that have allegedly been recalled from shelves.
Elvira Cajigas, division chief of the consumer welfare division, said they were not responsible for SMS warning. (Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro/Elisabeth Baumgart of Sun.Star Cebu/FP/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Baguio. (September 24, 2008 issue)
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