Concerted Effort Needed to Check Entry of Banned Products — Loren

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Loren Legarda yesterday called on the public and the private sectors to join hands to ensure the safety of the citizenry from the health risk posed by the banned milk and milk products from China.

The Chair of the Senate Committee on Economic Affairs also expressed alarm over the considerable effects of the banning of the contaminated milk in the economy in genera and in businessmen in particular at a time when the county is reeling from the shocks of series of typhoons and rising inflation.

“Admittedly this is a blow on the economy, but the health of public should be the utmost concern why we may have to be extra cautious on this issue,” Legarda said.

Citing the Bureau of Custom’s admission that two million kilos of alleged contaminated milk from China made their way to the market, Legarda said there is now an urgent need to look not only after the importers, but also the distributors and retailers nationwide.

“We really have to pay attention to this, or we may regret it in the end,” Legarda warned. “We should not forget the issue of the banned milk.”

The Department of Health (DOH) has already canceled the license of companies while the BOC has ordered all district and port of entries to be extra careful and vigilant on the possible entry of milk products from China. “All these products would be allowed to enter only if they are subjected to laboratory test and analysis by BFAD,” she said.

Legarda also cautioned the local government to give its share in this concerted effort by frequently cautioning small grocery stores and retailers in the neighborhood.

It is also important that the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) are constantly reminded to release the list of possible banned milk and milk products, so the local governments can effectively carry out whatever plans they may have.

Recalls of Chinese dairy products snowballed worldwide, that the European Union (EU) also resorted to banning imports of baby food containing Chinese milk and more Asian countries pulled suspected products out of shelves.

In addition to its ban, the 27-nation EU also called for tighter checks on other Chinese food imports.

“It’s as if we allow our babies to be fed with poison if we relax on this issue. Better be careful now so we won’t have to regret later,” she said.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: INBOX is an archive of press releases, statements, announcements, letters to the editors, and manifestos sent to PinoyPress for publication. Please email your materials to pinoypress @ gmail.com. PinoyPress is not responsible for the content of these materials. The opinion expessed in these items does not reflect those of PinoyPress and its staff. Please refer to our terms of use/disclaimer.