PARIS: France said on Wednesday it was banning all food items containing Chinese milk products as a precautionary move following a tainted milk scandal.
The European Union does not import milk or milk products from China. France's measure targets foodstuffs that contain Chinese dairy products as an ingredient.
"The public authorities have decided ... to adopt further precautionary measures for all products incorporating milk derivatives of Chinese origin," the French agriculture and economy ministries said in a statement.
"These products will have to be withdrawn from the market and will not be able to be put on sale," they added.
Many countries have restricted Chinese food imports since the emergence of tainted milk in China which has made more than 54,000 children sick.
The French statement was issued a day after Italy announced similar measures and shortly before Europe's top food safety agency is due to say whether food products such as those targeted by the French are safe.
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority to issue a scientific opinion on whether processed items containing milk products from China pose a risk to human health, and the announcement is expected this week.
France introduced checks last week to ensure no baby milk of Chinese origin was present on the French market, and the ministries said no such products had been found yet.
(Reporting by Francois Murphy; Editing by Giles Elgood)
Source: Iht.Com
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