AnimalVoicesNews Source/Letters: ConsumerAffairs.Com Inc <http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/pet_food_recall48.html> (close spaces) Link: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/pet_food_recall48.html
Contacts below. More about the Pet Food Recall ... <http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/pet_food_recall_index.html> Consumer Complaint Form <http://www.consumeraffairs.com/php/a_report.php> Pet Food Safety Summit Set for July Safety of Chinese Imports Questioned in Congress By Lisa Wade McCormick ConsumerAffairs.Com May 15, 2007 The company that imported melamine-tainted ingredients linked to the deaths of thousands of dogs and cats nationwide called today for a national Pet Food Ingredients Safety Summit. ChemNutra <http://www.chemnutra.com/>, of Las Vegas, said it wants manufacturers, ingredient importers, and analysis laboratories to work together at the summit -- tentatively set for July 14, 2007 in Las Vegas -- on import standards and specifications for pet food ingredients from China and around the world. ³Just as E. coli incidents have forced retailers and restaurateurs to get more directly involved with ensuring the safety of growers, the melamine adulteration of pet food mandates that importers and manufacturers establish new protocols for ensuring the safety of our suppliers,² ChemNutra¹s CEO, Steve Miller, said in a written statement. ³I am hopeful that those who import and use imported pet food ingredients will set aside any competitive differences we may have to unite for what I know is a common purpose, the safety of pets." Since March, 18 companies have recalled more than 5,600 pet food products because they contained imported and mislabeled ingredients tainted with melamine and melamine-related derivatives. Melamine is a chemical used in plastics and fertilizers. It is not approved for use in pet or human food. Importers originally thought those ingredients were wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate. But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has since learned those tainted ingredients were wheat flour intentionally spiked with melamine to give a higher protein count. Two Chinese companies exported those tainted ingredients to the United States -- Xuzhou Anying Biologic Technology Development Co. and Futian Biology Technology Co. Ltd. U.S. food inspectors sent to China to investigate the companies discovered last week that both manufacturers had closed and all their equipment was dismantled. ³We visited the two facilities, but there's essentially nothing to be found in that they are currently closed down, not operating,² Walter Batts, deputy director of the FDA¹s Office of International Programs, told reporters. ³There's essentially nothing, as they have determined, that is available to be seen at the facilities. They've been closed down, machinery dismantled, nothing to really get access to.² The FDA also confirmed that China detained the manager of one of those companies Mao Lijun of Xuzhou Anying. The Los Angels Times reported that Mao Lijun¹s factory has sickened people and plants for years. ³Farmers in this poor rural area about 400 miles northwest of Shanghai had complained to local government officials since 2004 that Mao's factory was spewing noxious fumes that made their eyes tear up and the poplar trees nearby shed their leaves prematurely,² the paper reported. ³Yet no one stopped Mao's company from churning out bags of food powders and belching smoke until one day last month when, in the middle of the night, bulldozers arrived and tore down the facility. The story added, ³It wasn't authorities that finally acted: Mao himself razed the brick factory days before the investigators from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration arrived in China on a mission to track down the source of the tainted pet food ingredients.² And those tainted ingredients haven¹t just shown up in pet food. They¹ve made their way into feed for pigs, chicken, and fish. FDA officials, however, say the risk to humans who eat meat from these farm animals and fish is minimal. Congressional Concern Meanwhile in Congress, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) <http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=274029> and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) have asked the country¹s trade representative to examine America¹s trade relationship with China. (see Below) "There is significant evidence that China is failing to meet international food safety standards -- from deceptive labeling and intentional contamination of products to unsanitary conditions,² DeLauro said in a written statement. ³In a modern, globalized food supply system significant amounts of food imports are a reality. And the Chinese need to be aware that their regulations need to be strengthened because trade should not trump public health." In a letter to Ambassador Susan Schwab, the United States Trade Representative, Durbin and DeLauro, wrote: ³The safety of food imports from China extends beyond the pet food recall. China is especially poor at meeting international food safety standards, which is particularly disturbing considering that China exported approximately $2.26 billion in agricultural products to the United States in 2006. "A recent news article noted that, in February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blocked the entry of several food products from China because they contained banned additives, were tainted by pesticides or were contaminated with salmonella. Some products were simply unsanitary.² Durbin and DeLauro asked Ambassador Schwab to answer two specific questions: What sanitary measures are included in current free trade agreements and other permanent trade relations in which the United States is currently engaged? What legal recourse does the United States possess with respect to imported food products that pose a threat to public health, in the event that the country where the offending product originated is not cooperative? "Not that long ago, the vast majority of products at the local grocery store were from domestic manufacturers, and subject to standard regulations,² Sen. Durbin said. ³Today, an increasing amount of our food, food additives, and over-the-counter drugs are imported from other countries -- where the laws governing food and drug safety are often lax or entirely absent. "Fewer than one in 50 food products from overseas are inspected. Those are poor odds for any bet, and not a risk American families should have to take." Meanwhile, the massive pet food recall sparked increased traffic and interest in pet-related Web sites. Nielsen//NetRatings, a Internet media and market research company, said Monday that Web traffic to pet-related sites grew 115 percent in March over the previous month--from 9.1 million visitors to 19.5 million. The company said worried pet owners flocked to online sites to learn more about that products affected by the nationwide recall of dog and cat foods. Related links at <http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/05/pet_food_recall48.html>: RECALL LIST Consumer Complaints --- News Pet Food Safety Summit Set for July Royal Canin Recalls 15 Pet Foods Chinese Companies Blamed for Pet Poisonings Closed Down Fish Were Fed Contaminated Feed Little Risk to Humans from Tainted Animal Feed, Feds Assert Senate Approves Measure to Strengthen Food Safety Menu Foods Expands Recall, Questions about Other Brands New Theory on Dog and Cat Poisonings Melamine Shows Up In Chicken Feed Spiked Pet Food Nothing New to Chinese, Times Finds More Food Poisonings to Come, Expert Warns Pet Food Fall-Out Continues, with Recalls, Raids, Lawsuits Melamine Found in North Carolina Hogs Thousands of Hogs May Have Eaten Contaminated Feed U.S. Food Supply at High Risk of Terrorist or Profit-Driven Tampering Senators Demand FDA Release Names of All Suspect Pet Food Companies South Africa Bans Gluten Products from China as Pet Poisonings Spread Pet Food Contamination Scandal Spreads to Pork, FDA Opens Criminal Investigation Intentional Spiking Suspected in Chinese Ingredients; Blue Buffalo Recalls Spa Select Kitten Dry Food Congress Pressing for Better Food Safety China Blocks U.S. Inspectors Seeking Answers to Pet Poisonings Importer Recalls Rice Protein Used in Pet Food Copyright © 2003-2007 ConsumerAffairs.Com Inc. All Rights Reserved. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> http://durbin.senate.gov/record.cfm?id=274029 Durbin, DeLauro Question US Trade Representative about US-China Trade Relationship Thursday, May 10, 2007 Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today called for the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Susan Schwab to examine the U.S. trade relationship with China in light of the questions being raised in connection with the pet food recall about China's poor sanitary conditions and lax food safety regulations. Recently, two companies in China have been identified as the source of the contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate in the pet food recall. In today's letter, Durbin and DeLauro requested that Ambassador Schwab provide information about food safety standards included in current free trade agreements and other permanent trade relations, as well as what recourse is taken when imports threaten public health. "Not that long ago, the vast majority of products at the local grocery store were from domestic manufacturers and subject to standard regulations. Today, an increasing amount of our food, food additives and over-the-counter drugs are imported from other countries -- where the laws governing food and drug safety are often lax or entirely absent," said Durbin. "Fewer than one in 50 food products from overseas are inspected. Those are poor odds for any bet and not a risk American families should have to take." "There is significant evidence that China is failing to meet international food safety standards - from deceptive labeling and intentional contamination of products to unsanitary conditions. In a modern, globalized food supply system significant amounts of food imports are a reality," said DeLauro. "And the Chinese need to be aware that their regulations need to be strengthened because trade should not trump public health." The text of the letter appears below: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ May 10, 2007 The Honorable Ambassador Susan Schwab Office of the United States Trade Representative 600 17th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20508 Dear Ambassador Schwab: We are writing in light of the recently discovered contamination of imported wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate used to manufacture pet food in the United States. This contamination led to the recall of millions of packages of pet food, a number of pet deaths and illnesses, and increased uncertainty about the safety and soundness of our food supply. Because the investigation also revealed that feeding operations for hogs, chickens, and fish also were affected, the contamination may have reached the human food supply. The safety of food imports from China extends beyond the pet food recall. China is especially poor at meeting international food safety standards, which is particularly disturbing considering that China exported approximately $2.26 billion in agricultural products to the United States in 2006. A recent news article noted that, in February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) blocked the entry of several food products from China because they contained banned additives, were tainted by pesticides or were contaminated with salmonella. Some products were simply unsanitary. The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is involved in these matters because regional, bilateral, and international trade agreements entered into by the United States often include sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures. For example, there are two World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements that deal with food safety and animal and plant health and safety. We understand that these provisions allow countries to set their own standards but require countries to base regulations on science and encourage countries to use international guidelines where they exist. Our concern is whether the USTR has the ability to challenge the sanitary and phytosanitary standards of our trading partners based on evidence that they are not meeting international standards and may be endangering public health in the United States. This issue is particularly important as U.S. agricultural imports are predicted to reach a record $69 billion in FY 2007. If we are to continue at this rate, we must ask important questions about the food safety standards of our trade partners to ensure our nation's public health is not compromised. Developing countries often lack sufficient regulations, monitoring, and enforcement of SPS regulations. China, for instance, has come under scrutiny in the past for an overall lack of transparency and failure to properly adhere to SPS measures required by the World Trade Organization. While we understand the importance of the United States' involvement in international trade, participation in these trade relations should not come at the expense of animal or human health. Therefore, we request answers to the following questions 1) What sanitary and phytosanitary measures are included in current free trade agreements and other permanent trade relations in which the United States is currently engaged? 2) What legal recourse does the United States possess with respect to imported food products that pose a threat to public health, in the event that the country where the offending product originated is not cooperative? We believe this situation deserves your attention and careful review. Sincerely, Richard J. Durbin United States Senator Rosa L. DeLauro Member of Congress PLEASE SUPPORT THEM!!! Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.) <http://durbin.senate.gov/> 309 Hart Senate Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-2152 (202) 228-0400 - fax 230 S Dearborn St. STE 3892 Chicago, IL 60604-1483 (312) 353-4952 (312) 353-0150 - fax Email: <http://durbin.senate.gov/contact.cfm#contact> Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) <http://www.house.gov/delauro/> 2262 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Phone: 202-225-3661 Fax: 202-225-4890 59 Elm Street New Haven, CT 06510 Phone: 203-562-3718 Fax: 203-772-2260 Email: < http://www.house.gov/delauro/IMA/issue.htm > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> This is distibuted for nonprofit research and educational purposes only. 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