The Food Safety Commission, through the Department for Environmental Health within the Public Health Regulation Division, has been following this issue closely through alert notifications and information disseminated via the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) and the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feeds (RASFF). These networks allow countries to monitor risks presented by food or feed to the health of the consumers.

In addition, Malta has also been following any evaluations published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). EFSA provides the European Commission with independent scientific advice on all matters with a direct or indirect impact on food safety.The EU has requested the Chinese authorities to confirm that products which have been exported to the EU do not contain milk affected by this intentional contamination and to share any data available and to suspend temporarily the export of composite products containing milk, unless following proper verification, it is guaranteed that they do not contain melamine in excess of acceptable levels.

As in all other EU states, the importation in Malta of milk products from China is prohibited by EU legislation since 2002. On 26th September 2008, the European Commission extended this ban to all Chinese products made for infants that could contain traces of milk powder. However, it is not excluded that such products had previously been imported in the EU.

For this purpose, Health Inspectors from the Department for Environmental Health increased inspections in retail outlets, including Chinese Restaurants, Asian food sellers and Importers known to trade in Chinese foodstuffs. Inspections carried out since 23rd September 2008 concentrated on products originating from China and as required by Commission Decision 2008/757 of 26th September 2008, Health inspectors are performing documentary, identity and physical checks in case of products containing more than 15% milk or milk products originating from China.

The public is being informed that all investigations to date have proved negative and there is therefore no reason for concern. The Food Safety Commission would like to assure the public that investigations will continue in line with new developments. The Commission assures the consumer that it will issue the guidelines to the public should investigation reveal the importation into Malta of any potentially contaminated product.

In case of any further queries, consumers are being requested to contact the Department for Environmental Health on Tel Nos. 21332225 and 21337333 between 08:00hrs and 14:00hrs or refer to the Food Safety Commission website http://www.health.gov.mt/fsc/fschome.htm

Permalink: No contaminated milk products from China found