China/EU

Europe prepares milk products ban

Article published on the 2008-09-25 Latest update 2008-09-26 06:10 TU

Taking urine samples for kidney stone tests in a hospital in Taipei
(Photo: Reuters)

The European Commission on Thursday announced that it is preparing an "explicit total" ban on all products from China which contain milk and are meant for infants and young children. India on Thursday banned Chinese milk products. Over a dozen countries have now implemented a ban, although the only cases so far of children falling ill outside mainland China are in Hong Kong.

The measure is designed "to ensure that such products are not imported in any form", said a commission spokesperson.

China does not export milk or yoghurt to the European Union  but it does export products, such as biscuits and chocolate, which contain milk.

India banned the import of dairy products on the grounds that they could be contaminated with dangerous chemicals.

The United Nations children's programme, Unicef, issued a statement with the World Health Organisation (WHO) saying that it "observed with great sadness and concern" the results of the sale of tainted milk products which have resulted in four children dying and 53,000 falling ill.

But the WHO's representative in Beijing, Hans Troodson, says that the organisation does favour tests by foreign governments, rather than a total ban.

"The central government here has taken very appropriate action since they went public in early September," he told RFI. "So we are pleased with that action that has been taken, that they widen the investigation, looking also at other food products."