Taiwan
Recall of tainted Taiwan foods continues
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-03 08:57
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GUANGZHOU - Authorities in Southeast China's coastal provinces on Thursday continued to crack down on imports of food and beverage products from Taiwan over fears that they might have been contaminated by an industrial chemical used to soften plastic products.
In Guangdong province, the local industry and commerce administration has ordered a recall of 496 bottles of Taiwan beverages suspected of containing bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), as well as another 1,500 bottles of Taiwan beverages that were not quarantined after arriving in the province.
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In the city of Xiamen in Fujian province, the local industry and commerce administration has recalled at least 678 bottled beverages from Taiwan that did not have proper documentation. The authority also launched a "blanket inspection" of food products from Taiwan.
Meanwhile, sales of Taiwan beverages on?the mainland's?major e-commerce platform taobao.com were halted on Thursday. Many products were labeled "DEHP-free" by their vendors in order to attract customers.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said that starting from June 1, the mainland will suspend imports of beverages, food products and food additives from Taiwan that are produced by companies suspected of using DEHP.
Only beverages, food products and additives produced by manufacturers that have been certified DEHP-free may be sold on the mainland market.
The food safety commission under the State Council, or China's cabinet, has ordered increased inspections and instant recalls for beverages, food products and additives contaminated with DEHP if they are found in factories, stores, or restaurants.
As of Thursday night, mainland importers have recalled more than 4,800 bottles of DEHP-tainted sports drinks from Taiwan.