Milk buying system to be overhauled

The government has vowed to overhaul the country's milk collection system to prevent contaminated milk from reaching food-processing plants.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) has already sent 1,644 teams and 387 working groups across the country to inspect the production process of dairy plants.

Melamine-contaminated baby milk food has killed four infants and left more than 53,000 with various urinary tract problems, including kidney stones. About 13,000 infants are still being treated for complications in hospitals, and the condition of 104 is serious. About 40,000 other children have either recovered or are convalescing.

The milk collection system, is "out of control" and led to the scandal that has crossed the country's borders, Minister of Agriculture, Sun Zhengcai said. But he promised to cleanse the system.

At a meeting with the health and public security ministries on Monday evening, Sun said that melamine was most probably mixed with milk at the collection centers, where small dairy farmers sell their products.

"Since milk collection centers began operating only in recent years, the country does not have a specific department to supervise them," Sun said, according to a summary of his remarks posted on the ministry's website yesterday. And "the buying process for fresh milk is basically out of control".

"We have to crack down on the collection centers with the greatest determination and toughest measures," Sun said. "There cannot be a compromise in fulfilling every task of the clean-up operation."

Melamine, which makes milk appear rich in protein, has also been found in candies and buns exported to other countries and regions, prompting them to impose import bans on Chinese products.

Outside the Chinese mainland, four children have been diagnosed with urinary tract problems in Hong Kong.

The milk food scandal has "hurt the reputation of Chinese products", the Ministry of Commerce said in a directive.

Firms producing and exporting dairy and other food products, pharmaceuticals, toys, furniture and other goods that involve health safety will be subjected to stricter inspections.

Markets where Chinese milk products have been banned, suspended or recalled include Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Tanzania, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The European Union is expected to issue an advisory this week on whether processed goods with Chinese milk products pose a health threat.

In Manila, Anthony Hazzard, WHO's Western Pacific regional adviser on food safety, said WHO officials do not know how many countries have been affected by contaminated milk from China. They have, however, warned against contaminated infant milk food crossing the borders illegally.

The International Food Safety Authorities (INFOSAN), a network of 167 countries, is trying to get a better picture of the flow of contaminated milk products from China, Hazzard said.

INFOSAN has advised all countries "to particularly focus on monitoring infant milk formula that may have illegally crossed the borders".

Hans Troedsson, WHO's representative in Beijing, said China needed deeper reforms to ensure safety controls are enforced. The country is likely to expedite the approval process of a food safety law, and could pass it by early next year.

"What needs to be stepped up is supervision, inspection and regulation at the local level."