UAE | Health
China dairy product ban being enforced
UAE authorities are strictly implementing a ban imposed by the General Secretariat of Municipalities (GSM) on Chinese dairy and related products because of traces of the industrial chemical melamine in them.
- By Binsal Abdul Kader, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:56 September 28, 2008
Abu Dhabi: UAE authorities are strictly implementing a ban imposed by the General Secretariat of Municipalities (GSM) on Chinese dairy and related products because of traces of the industrial chemical melamine in them.
"We have stepped up our vigil after Hong Kong withdrew Chinese made crackers, Heinz baby cereal and Lotte's Koala Cookies on Friday for melamine contents," Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) officials said.
GSM decided to ban Chinese dairy and related products on September 25, ordering all such products to be withdrawn from the market until it is ensured that they are free from melamine.
Border checks
"We had ensured that no tainted Chinese milk products are in Abu Dhabi markets and now stepped up our vigil against the three products withdrawn in Hong Kong," said Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Manager of Communication and Information at ADFCA. "We have alerted our inspectors at the border checkpoints to stop such products," he added.
Meanwhile, the company distributing Heinz baby cereal in the UAE said that the product is manufactured in Oman and hence no health risk was involved.
"We are distributing Heinz baby cereal manufactured in Oman only," a spokesperson of the company told Gulf News yesterday.
Some retail outlets that sell Heinz baby cereal said they have ensured that the product is made in Oman.
Industry sources told Gulf News that Lotte's cookies are also available in the UAE market but they are made in Korea.
Many UAE retail chains said the tainted products are not on their shelves.
"Our managing director decided a month ago to remove all Chinese diary and related products from the shelves and we strictly follow it," said a spokesperson of the Emke group, which runs the LuLu retail chain.
Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society said it checked with all manufacturers of their products and ensured they don't use any Chinese milk products. "We never import such products from China. Our milk products are imported from Europe," said Bejoy Thomas, marketing and promotions manager. Al Maya Supermarkets in Dubai said it has ensured that no tainted products are sold. "We are taking extra care about it," said Kamal Vachani, the director.
The United Nations on Friday urged concerted action to remove melamine from the food chain as China's toxic milk scandal deepened.
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