Initial tests have shown that imports of baby milk formula from New Zealand do not contain any traces of a potentially hazardous substance, a Department of Health (DOH) official said on Sunday.
Food and Drug Administration Director-General Kang Jaw-jou (康照洲) said the bureau’s laboratory is still double-checking some samples of milk formula, the results of which are expected tomorrow. He added that the final results are to be released this week.
However, it is not expected that any residues of the substance, dicyandiamide (DCD), will be detected in the repeat testing, he said.
The food administration began testing samples of baby milk formula from New Zealand on Saturday after the Wall Street Journal on Thursday reported that low levels of DCD had been found in milk originating from there and that two major New Zealand fertilizer companies — Ravensdown and Ballance Agri-Nutrients — suspended DCD sales in response.
Responding to the report, the New Zealand government said DCD is a substance with low toxicity and that the nation’s dairy products had not been recalled at home nor in neighboring countries.
So far, the department has not asked local importers of the products to suspend sales in Taiwan.
“We will not order a recall of New Zealand dairy products unless the final test results show some abnormal results,” Kang said.
From last year through early this month, Taiwan imported 2.99 million kilograms of baby milk formula from New Zealand, the department said in apress statement issued on Friday.
During the same period, Taiwan imported 41.91 million kilograms of adult milk powder from New Zealand, the statement said.
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