The Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs last night confirmed that the China-made milk powder suspected to have killed one baby and sickened dozens had been imported to Taiwan.
The Department of Health (DOH) was still checking whether these products had made it to stores in Taiwan, said Wang Je-chau (王哲超), director of the DOH’s Public Relations Office.
“We will find out the channels of distribution and quantity of shipment. Then we will have the products taken off the shelves immediately,” he said.
25 TONNES
The comments came in response to a Central News Agency report that cited the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine as saying that the Sanlu brand milk powder had been imported to Taiwan this June.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) said it received information yesterday afternoon showing that the Sanlu Group had exported 25 tonnes of the milk powder in 25kg packages to Taiwan in June.
NOTIFICATION
The CNA report quoted TAO Spokesperson Yang Yi (楊毅) as saying that the office had informed Taiwan’s Straits Exchange Foundation via the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait as soon as it received the information.
John Deng (鄧振中), deputy minister of economic affairs, told reporters last night that the ministry had informed BSMI personnel stationed at harbors to pay close attention to imports of milk powder from China.
BLOCK
BSMI personnel would not allow the questionable products to pass customs, he said.
Hsieh Ting-hung (謝定宏), deputy director-general at the DOH’s Bureau of Food Safety, said that the products were imported by the Fonterra (ING) Ltd’s Taiwan branch.
<P>
Also See: <a href="http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/09/13/2003423067">Chinese authorities launch nationwide milk powder probe</a>
A strong continental cold air mass is to bring pollutants to Taiwan from tomorrow, the Ministry of Environment said today, as it issued an “orange” air quality alert for most of the country. All of Taiwan except for Hualien and Taitung counties is to be under an “orange” air quality alert tomorrow, indicating air quality that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. In China, areas from Shandong to Shanghai have been enveloped in haze since Saturday, the ministry said in a news release. Yesterday, hourly concentrations of PM2.5 in these areas ranged from 65 to 160 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/m³), and pollutants were
Taiwan’s armed forces have established response protocols for a wide range of sudden contingencies, including the “Wan Chun Plan” to protect the head of state, the Ministry of Defense (MND) said today. After US President Donald Trump on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, concerns have been raised as to whether China would launch a similar “decapitation strike” on Taiwan. The armed forces regularly coordinate with relevant agencies and practice drills to ensure preparedness for a wide range of scenarios, Vice Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) told reporters before a
EVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. According to a report published on Thursday by The Reporter, the incident occurred after the flight’s Malaysian first officer tried to warn the Taiwanese pilot, surnamed Wen (文), that he was taxiing faster than the speed limit of 30 knots (55.6kph). After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating
NOT AN OPENING: Trump’s violation of international law does not affect China’s consideration in attacking Taiwan; Beijing lacks capability, not precedent, an official said Taiwanese officials see the US’ capture of the president of Venezuela as a powerful deterrent to Beijing’s aggression and a timely reminder of the US’ ability to defeat militaries equipped with Chinese-made weapons. The strikes that toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro signaled to authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), US President Donald Trump’s willingness to use military might for international affairs core to US interests, one senior official in Taipei’s security circle said. That reassured Taiwan, the person said. Taipei has also dismissed the idea that Trump’s apparent violation of international law could embolden Beijing, said the official, who was not