WHO: Beware of illegal entry of China milk products
by DAVID DIZON, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/23/2008 6:16 PM
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The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday said neighboring countries of China should guard against the illegal entry of melamine-contaminated milk products from Chinese firm Sanlu Group, which has sickened thousands of children in the communist state.
Anthony Hazzard, WHO Regional Adviser in Food Safety, said the WHO has already informed all 167 member countries of the International Food Safety Authority Network to monitor marketplaces for the possible entry of Sanlu milk products. He said the Chinese Ministry of Health has recorded more than 54,000 cases of Chinese infants being hospitalized as a result of drinking Sanlu infant milk products.
"Countries near China have people who are crossing the border all the time so the potential is there for illegal export of the melamine-contaminated products. Right now, we have no indications that there are illegal exports of contaminated milk products in the Philippines," Hazzard told abs-cbnNEWS.com.
Hazzard said WHO does not recommend a total ban of milk products from China but acknowledged that each government should take precautions to the health scare. He said WHO has yet to receive reports of Chinese companies other than Sanlu being directly linked to the health scare.
The Chinese Ministry of Health earlier said Sanlu milk products had melamine levels of as high as 2,563 mg per kilogram of its milk products. On Tuesday, the Chinese government limited melamine levels in food products based on the standards of the European Union and United States.
Under the new government regulations, all dairy products and food for infants under 36 months old, pregnant women and lactating women should not contain more than 1 milligram of melamine per kilogram. Other food products should not contain more than 2.5 milligrams of melamine per kilogram.
Violations of the regulation are subject to a maximum fine of HK$50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
Hazzard echoed the recommendation of outgoing WHO Western Pacific regional director Shigeru Omi that the Chinese government tighten safety checks on its food products because of the nation's role as a major food supplier.
"In any company using good hygienic practices and good manufacturing process, they should look back into their supply chain to check if the supplies provided are safe," he said.
He said the WHO has been working with China's State Council to revise food safety control systems in the communist country.
The Philippine Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has imposed a temporary ban on the sale and distribution of all Chinese milk products as a result of the melamine contamination crisis.
In its advisory, BFAD warned consumers against purchasing milk products that are manufactured or sourced in China until it finishes tests on the safety of the products.
