BFAD expands list of China products for testing

Authorities tested more Chinese products yesterday after ordering several candy and cookie brands found to be tainted with an embalming chemical to be withdrawn from stores, the country’s food safety watchdog said.

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) earlier warned the public against some Chinese candies and cookies that tested positive for formaldehyde, an embalming fluid and disinfectant linked to cancer in humans.

The bureau has expanded its list of products for testing to include toothpaste suspected of containing unspecified “heavy metals,” the bureau’s Deputy Director Joshua Ramos said without elaborating.

Major supermarkets and malls have 15 to 30 days to remove the contaminated items, Ramos said.

“We are continuing our sampling and testing. The initial list we came out with is just the first batch to be sampled,” Ramos told Manila radio dzBB.

“There are many other products undergoing tests,” he added.

He said authorities had no problem ensuring that licensed distributors such as supermarkets comply with Philippine food regulations, but that it is difficult to monitor unlicensed facilities and prevent the dumping of products because sea borders are so porous.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Customs has intensified its monitoring of imported goods arriving at the country’s 15 major ports to prevent entry of the banned Chinese food products.

Customs Commissioner Napoleon Morales said he would coordinate with the BFAD and immediately issue a circular for strict checking and regulation measures at ports.

“The public need not worry as these products are classified as regulated items. Meaning, the bureau will not release them without the necessary clearance from the required government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture, Meat Inspection Board or in this case, the BFAD,” he said.    – Edu Punay, AP