http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/09/03/business/safety.php
China takes aim at foods tainted with illegal and excessive chemicals Reuters Monday, September 3, 2007 BEIJING: China will clamp down on foods tainted with illegal and excessive chemicals as it seeks to quell domestic and foreign alarm about toxins in meat, seafood and vegetables, the country's top agriculture official said. China is battling a torrent of warnings and recalls abroad that have shaken international markets' confidence in the "made in China" label on products ranging from toothpaste and toys to food and tires. Agriculture Minister Sun Zhengcai said consumers had no reason to fear eating most of the nation's farm produce, while the quality inspection agency announced a plan for comprehensive food export tagging in a bid to reassure customers. In an interview published by the official People's Daily on Monday, Sun promised stiff action against farmers and producers who used banned chemicals to boost yields and profits. "This crackdown campaign will be no mere formality," Sun said. Among banned practices will be use of chloramphenicol, malachite green and other potentially toxic chemicals used in raising seafood. The United States said in June that it would not allow imports of Chinese farm-raised catfish, shrimp and other seafood unless suppliers proved shipments were free from harmful residues, including malachite green - a potential carcinogen illegally used to kill fungus and bacteria in fish tanks. Sun also promised an offensive against banned additives in animal feed and pet food. Inspections of pork production would be intensified in an effort to ensure that only pigs that had been properly tagged and checked for disease reached dinner tables, Sun said. China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine announced that all major food exports produced from Sept. 1 onward must carry labels to show they have passed inspection. Meanwhile, the Australian state of Victoria banned imports of three brands of Chinese toothpaste, saying they contain potentially lethal levels of a toxic chemical. It said the toothpaste contained a chemical called diethylene glycol that is classified as a "toxic substance." Retailers will be fined up to 61,350 Australian dollars, or $50,450, if they are found to be selling the brands. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
