NZ milk powder clearance suspended

5 August 2013 04:42 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Health Ministry today instructed the Customs to immediately suspend the clearance of milk powder containing Whey Protein on health concerns in the wake of China and Russia announcing a ban on milk powder imports from New Zealand.

The Health Ministry also decided not to release stocks of milk powder imported from New Zealand until further tests are carried out on all imported milk powder products, a Health Ministry spokesman said.

All milk products with traces of Whey Protein or Clostridium Bacteria will also be removed from stalls of all local markets and super markets until further notice. Laboratory tests will be carried out randomly on samples obtained from stocks in the local market.

According to instructions issued by Health Services Director General (DGHS) Palitha Mahipala the laboratory tests carried out by the Food and Environment Unit of the Health Ministry in Thailand have found no traces of Dicyandiamide (DCD) in milk powder. However, further tests have been ordered to ensure full safety of imported milk products. Some 177 samples randomly obtained from the local market have been used in the tests. The Health Ministry has further instructed Thailand scientists to pay attention to Whey Protein and Clostridium in tests to ascertain the milk powder imported to Sri Lanka were free of any foreign matter.

“As a precaution, the DGHS has suspended milk powder suspected of having Whey Protein and Clostridium Bacteria from entering the local market,” Health Ministry spokesman Dharma Wanninayaka said.

However, the Health Ministry asks the public not panic as no hard evidence have been found that the milk powder products available in the local market contains DCD or Whey Protein (Sandun A. Jayasekera)

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Comments - 18

nawaladykamila Tuesday, 06 August 2013 01:47 AM

not to panic? then is it only harm foreign people like china and Russia? we are nice citizen's from "anga haru loke"

Person Wednesday, 07 August 2013 06:27 AM

exactly

kumara Tuesday, 06 August 2013 09:26 AM

AS A GOOD POLITICIAN WHAT KIND OF SUGGESTION BEEN PROPOSED.
WE HAVE ENOUGH OF THINGS. PLEASE IMPLEMENT. MAKE OUR PEOPLE INCOME BATTER. WHY WE ARE WAITING NZ MILK. ????????????????

Me Tuesday, 06 August 2013 08:56 AM

Sri Lanka is yet to be self-sufficient in dairy, hence the requirement to import powdered milk. However, its high time the government looks in to structured development in the dairy industry

Gamarala Tuesday, 06 August 2013 08:06 AM

What a nice avenue of income for politicians....!

Gamaya Tuesday, 06 August 2013 07:57 AM

Be careful. NGO will find similar thing from local milk TO DICREDIT LOCAL MILK

Chams Tuesday, 06 August 2013 06:58 AM

Are these Chinese or Russian orders?

Chamara Fernando Tuesday, 06 August 2013 05:10 AM

China want's to clear there mistake on "melamine", don't trust them. there the one who did the wrong thing first. Best use sri lankan products.

Porky Pig Tuesday, 06 August 2013 02:08 AM

The tax on imported milk powder has been increased in leaps and bounds and is major income earned for the Sri Lanka government to maintain the jumbo cabinet. It is very unlikely they will stop the imports of milk foods and milk power.

vk Tuesday, 06 August 2013 12:00 AM

tz time to convert the consumers into freshmilk consuming culture as srilanka is now self sufficient in dairy via DM Android App

Mm Tuesday, 06 August 2013 01:12 AM

Sirima bandaranayake also band milk!!! Wonder if she got the milk tested and found something in then in that era too!

Mm Tuesday, 06 August 2013 01:07 AM

Like the fuel our authorities will test and say all milk product r good! Any way only god knows the standard of the loca milk products and what poison they contain.

Mm Tuesday, 06 August 2013 01:04 AM

I wonder what poison is mixed with our local milk products!!!! When a government can't solve poison in drinking water how would they know what r cows swallow from the grass!!!!!!!

ANTON Tuesday, 06 August 2013 12:55 AM

KUKKU WALATATH THITHA.

ANTON Tuesday, 06 August 2013 12:54 AM

GET A SAMPLE TESTED AT PETROLEUM CORPORATION.

ANTON Tuesday, 06 August 2013 12:52 AM

CARRY OUT SECOND TEST AND ACCEPT THE LOT.

Utter mutt Tuesday, 06 August 2013 12:32 AM

Finally they have worken up.

yapa Tuesday, 06 August 2013 12:24 AM

Health Ministry should not mix all the issues which are different to one another. Make use of the experts and the science behind the issues.Trade Unions should not get involved in these issues. Avoid chaotic situations.

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NZ milk powder clearance suspended

Comments - 18

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