RP ports alerted vs banned Chinese products

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      RP ports alerted vs banned Chinese products

The Bureau of Customs has alerted Philippine port authorities to be on the lookout for banned products from China that can be smuggled to the country.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said he has coordinated with the Bureau of Food and Drugs to discuss measures on how to intensify the ban on food products and smuggled goods from China.

The bureau earlier confiscated a 40-foot container truck containing frozen vegetables, meat products, Peking ducks and pigeons from China. The contents were misdeclared as French fries from Hong Kong.

Meat and chicken products from China are banned from entering the country due to the threat of bird flu.

The BFAD on Thursday said some smuggled food products from China that have found their way to Philippine supermarkets and stores could be hazardous to Filipinos.

"Owing to the archipelagic needs of the country, our border, [harmful food products] may be smuggled into the country," Joshua Ramos, BFAD deputy director, told ABS-CBN News.

BFAD rules for food product registration is not a guarantee that everything that enters the country is safe, Ramos said. 

He said there are 861 imported food products registered with BFAD with more items still undergoing inspection and testing. 

He added the BFAD is not singling out Chinese-made products. The crackdown started after the Chinese government announced the closure of 180 food establishments. 

On Wednesday Philippine authorities issued a public warning against four Chinese food products.

These were identified as "White Rabbit Creamy Candy," manufactured by Shanghai Guan Sheng Yuan Food General Factory; "Milk Candy," manufactured by Romanticfish Food Industry Co.,Inc.; "Bairong Grape Biscuits" of Dongguan Bairong Foodstuff Co.,Ltd.; and "Yong Kang Foods Grape Biscuit" of Dongguan Yongkang Food Co., Ltd.

The products allegedly had formaldehyde or formalin.

Officials also ordered importers and distributors to recall the products from store shelves.

Meanwhile, Ramos clarified that the locally-made White Rabbit candies are safe but consumers should be carefully examine the packaging before buying the candy. The Chinese-made White Rabbit has foreign characters on its packaging. With a report from Maan Macapagal

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July Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Valued Member Joined: May 24 2006 Status: Offline Points: 1660	Post Options Post Reply Quote July Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: RP ports alerted vs banned Chinese products Posted: July 19 2007 at 5:00am
	RP ports alerted vs banned Chinese products The Bureau of Customs has alerted Philippine port authorities to be on the lookout for banned products from China that can be smuggled to the country. Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said he has coordinated with the Bureau of Food and Drugs to discuss measures on how to intensify the ban on food products and smuggled goods from China. The bureau earlier confiscated a 40-foot container truck containing frozen vegetables, meat products, Peking ducks and pigeons from China. The contents were misdeclared as French fries from Hong Kong. Meat and chicken products from China are banned from entering the country due to the threat of bird flu. The BFAD on Thursday said some smuggled food products from China that have found their way to Philippine supermarkets and stores could be hazardous to Filipinos. "Owing to the archipelagic needs of the country, our border, [harmful food products] may be smuggled into the country," Joshua Ramos, BFAD deputy director, told ABS-CBN News. BFAD rules for food product registration is not a guarantee that everything that enters the country is safe, Ramos said. He said there are 861 imported food products registered with BFAD with more items still undergoing inspection and testing. He added the BFAD is not singling out Chinese-made products. The crackdown started after the Chinese government announced the closure of 180 food establishments. On Wednesday Philippine authorities issued a public warning against four Chinese food products. These were identified as "White Rabbit Creamy Candy," manufactured by Shanghai Guan Sheng Yuan Food General Factory; "Milk Candy," manufactured by Romanticfish Food Industry Co.,Inc.; "Bairong Grape Biscuits" of Dongguan Bairong Foodstuff Co.,Ltd.; and "Yong Kang Foods Grape Biscuit" of Dongguan Yongkang Food Co., Ltd. The products allegedly had formaldehyde or formalin. Officials also ordered importers and distributors to recall the products from store shelves. Meanwhile, Ramos clarified that the locally-made White Rabbit candies are safe but consumers should be carefully examine the packaging before buying the candy. The Chinese-made White Rabbit has foreign characters on its packaging. With a report from Maan Macapagal