PASG on alert for entry of contaminated milk

MANILA, Philippines – The Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG) ordered yesterday close monitoring for the entry of contaminated milk and dairy products from China.

PASG chief Undersecretary Antonio Villar Jr. said the agency would help ensure that public health would not be compromised.

He gave the assurance to the people in the wake of a warning issued to the government by the World Health Organization (WHO) against dairy and milk products from China where several infants have died and scores of babies were hospitalized after drinking infant milk formula tainted with melamine, a chemical used in making plastics, which allegedly increases the protein content of milk.

“We have to be extra vigilant at this point in time. We cannot afford to lower our guard, knowing that some evil out there may take advantage of the situation,” Villar said.

He directed PASG agents to “spare no one who will be caught trying to smuggle in the banned milk and dairy products as well as the banned chemicals used in the manufacture of these products.”

All PASG field directors in major ports in the country are under strict orders to see to it that these products do not find their way into the local market because they are sleeping on the job.

He warned PASG agents of the harsh consequences of being remiss in their duties.

Villar said PASG agents in Metro Manila were ordered to monitor shipments of milk and dairy products from China.

 Meanwhile, the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has asked the Bureau of Customs to thoroughly screen all shipments to prevent the smuggling of contaminated milk from China.

Nestlé Philippines Inc. assured consumers that all its milk products are safe for consumption.

Nestlé Philippines director of communications Sandra Puno said the raw materials they use for milk products manufactured and distributed in the country were imported from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and United States.

“Nestlé milk products are manufactured under high quality control standards and meet all regulatory standards before they are released to the local market. Nestlé thoroughly routinely analyses all raw materials to ensure that they comply with Nestlé standards as well as other internationally recognized standards for food quality and safety,” Puno noted.

BFAD director Prof. Leticia Gutierrez said the Philippines does not import milk products from China and they coordinated with Customs to keep the country’s guard up against smuggled products.   — With Sheila Crisostomo