FDB suspends import of milk products from China

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - The Food and Drugs Board (FDB,) in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Trade and Industry has with immediate effect, suspended the importation of all milk and milk products meant for human consumption manufactured in China. This includes all food products that have milk as an ingredient, Mr. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, Chief Executive Officer of FDB, said at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday.

The suspension is as a result of the current food safety alert on contamination of milk, especially infant formula and milk products of Chinese origin, specifically Sanlu and found to contain melamine, a nitrogen-based material dangerous to human health.

Other milk products such as powdered milk, liquid milk, candies, cookies, milk tablets, toffees, cream crackers, egg rolls, yoghurt drinks and chocolates from China are affected by the ban. Thousands of infants have become sick and four babies have died in China after being fed baby formula laced with melamine, a banned industrial chemical.

Mr Agyarko said melamine was intolerable in infants due to their vulnerability and excessive intake in adults over a long period could have harmful effect on the kidney.

He explained that importers who might have shipped any of the affected products prior to this notice would have their consignments, whether registered with FDB or not, detained at the ports of entry pending further investigations.

Meanwhile, importers of affected products would be required to submit a certificate of analysis to FDB indicating the melamine status of every consignment to be issued by government agency responsible for food safety and quality from the country of origin. Mr Agyarko called on local manufacturers that used milk based materials or any milk in their production process to refrain from any such raw material of Chinese origin until further notice. He advised the general public not to panic as the appropriate regulatory measures were being implemented to ensure public health and safety.

Mr John Odame Darkwa, a Deputy Chief Executive Officer in-Charge of Food, said though no company had registered with the Board to import such products from China, "it does not mean our market is safe". He assured the public that the Board's Post-Market Surveillance team was on the ground to ensure that such products were withdrawn from the shelves in the markets.