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Sunday, October 05, 2008
DOH may adopt list of other banned milk products
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) is eyeing to adopt other countries' watchlists of banned milk and milk-based products due to possible melamine contamination.
Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said Saturday this will complement the ongoing tests on milk and milk-based products by the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD).
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"Some countries have produced watchlists of products from China that they are testing. We are monitoring this and if the ban is applicable here, we might make the proper announcements," Padilla said over government-run dzRB radio.
Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said BFAD is speeding up its tests on more than 200 milk and milk-based products during the weekend.
Duque said they expect to come up with the results by Monday or Tuesday.
Last Friday, BFAD announced that two China-made milk products -- Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk and Mengniu Drink (both labeled in Chinese characters) -- were tainted with the toxic melamine substance.
The two products were tested through high-pressure liquid chromatography and showed it contained melamine of more than 1.0 parts per million (ppm).
The list issued also contained the 28 items that health authorities delisted from the banned China products after they were found safe for human consumption.
Duque said the two milk products could have been smuggled into the country. He also urged the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to intensify their guard against entry of such kind of contrabands.
The DOH chief said he will recommend to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), BOC and Chinese embassy officials the filing of appropriate charges against persons involved with the distribution of smuggled milk products.
Criminal and administrative charges in violation of the Consumer Act will be filed against those who will be found distributing and selling the banned milk and milk products, he added.
The health department also urged the public to remain careful of milk products from China, as well as repackaged milk especially those without labels.
"We must be doubly careful especially of milk products from China," he said. (JMR/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (October 5, 2008 issue)
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