China sets new standards for dairy industry
10/10/2008 16:51
China's State Council issued a series of quality control regulations for
dairy products yesterday. The move was prompted by the country's contaminated
milk scandal.
The regulations tighten control of how milk-yielding animals
are bred,how raw milk is purchased and the production and sales of dairy
food.
There will also be more severe punishment for people who violate safety
standards and quality control departments that fail to fulfil
duties.
Relevant officials will also be punished if dairy food safety
incidents occur.
The regulations state that quality watchdogs will now be
required to carry out regular inspections of dairy products. Law-breaking
producers will be blacklisted and outted publicly.
Health authorities under
the State Council will now be responsible for setting up national safety
standards for dairy foods. Those standards will limit pathogenic animalcule,
pesticide residue, veterinary drug residue and other hazardous substances in
dairy products. There will also be new hygiene requirements for dairy producers
along with standardized national quality testing methods.
"Any non-food
chemicals or hazardous substances are prohibited from being added into raw milk
in its production, purchase, storage, transport and sales," the State Council
said.
Raw milk-purchasing stations will now need approval from local
authorities to operate. The regulations state that stations should be run by
dairy food producers, milk-yielding animal farms or milk farm cooperatives.
Other organizations and individuals are banned from collecting raw milk
The
new regulations go into effect yesterday.
Also this week, the Ministry of
Health issued new limits on melamine levels in dairy products. A maximum 2.5
milligrams per kilogram was allowed for liquid milk, milk powder and food
products containing at least 15 percent milk.
Contaminated baby formula has
killed at least three infants in China and left more than 53,000 children with
urinary tract problems, including kidney stones.
So far, 27 people have been
arrested over the scandal.
Xinhua
|
