10 tonnes Chinese biscuits seized

BY PRABHAKAR GHIMIRE

KATHMANDU, Sept 27 - In a step to prevent Chinese contaminated milk products from entering Nepal via India, Birgunj customs today seized 10,000 kg Chinese biscuits. "We have received information from Birgunj customs about a ban on the entry of a huge quantity of biscuits on ...

Amid worldwide reports of contaminated Chinese milk products, which so far has caused death of at least four children and has made thousands of others sick, the government on September 24 had imposed a ban on import of all kinds of milk products from the northern neighbour.

"As it is quite a new case not only for Nepal but also for other countries, we are consulting with food technologists and closely watching the responses of other countries," Bhattarai said.

He further informed that the department has initiated groundwork to import a new laboratory set up equipped with the latest technology to test such contamination in food items," he further said. "We are in the process of importing a 'test kit' from Singapore soon," he added.

Bhattarai further said the department has requested all major department stores in the capital not to sell Chinese milk products, keeping in mind the gravity of issues directly related to human health.

In view of the reported fatal cases caused by tainted Chinese milk products resulting in ban on these products in a number of countries, the government had announced the ban.

The European Union also announced it would ban some Chinese products containing milk.

He ruled out any immediate lifting of the ban on Chinese milk product imports and added, "We are making contact with Chinese authorities in this regard.

The department issued a public notification on Friday requesting the general public not to eat 'Chinese milk, milk toffees and other milk chocolates' in the latest move to stop  contaminated milk products moving out of store shelves.

The government food testing authority has already circulated this notice to all its regional offices and quarantines to strictly restrict the entry of Chinese milk products into the country.

In China, the number of sick children has climbed to around 7000 due to milk tainted with melamine, an industrial chemical.

At least four children have died and more than 1,400 others, mostly newborns, have been hospitalised with dozens suffering acute kidney failure in China.