Dorothy Nakaweesi
1 October 2008
Kampala — Uganda National Bureau of Standards has blacklisted all milk imports that could contain Chinese dairy derivatives as a safe guard. And also all these products will be restricted to a mandatory laboratory testing to determine the absence of melamine.
This comes after wide spread news of China's most reputable dairies which were found selling baby formula and other milk products contaminated with melamine, an industrial chemical that causes kidney stones and kidney failure.
Infants are particularly vulnerable and tens of thousands of Chinese babies have been affected while 4 deaths have been reported.
In an Interview with Daily Monitor the Executive Director UNBS Dr Terry Kahuma said; "We have alerted all our officials at all entry points to stop all milk imports from China".
UNBS has also proposed to sister regulatory agencies in the partner states of the East African Community to initiate a regional approach to control Chinese imported dairy products. Although Uganda has no milk imports from China according to the Dairy Development Authority, UNBS said the public should be very vigilant of Chinese milk products.
The dairy firm at the centre of this crisis is a Chinese company by the names of Sunlu and the milk powder brands reportedly tainted include: 'Yashili Infant Formula Milk Powder', 'Yashili follow-up Infant Formula Milk Powder' and 'Gain School Advance'
Dr Kahuma added; "The blacklist is going to extend to all other products which contain milk as an ingredient like sweets, candies, chocolates manufactured in China". UNBS would like to inform the public that everything is being done to ensure importation of safe dairy products and the public will be notified, with immediate effect of any additional precautionary measures.
In Africa, Uganda becomes the fourth country to ban Chinese milk and products containing milk. Tanzania, Gabon and Burundi are the other countries, which have banned these products.
Responding to UNBS's action Kampala City Traders Association's Spokes Person Mr Isah Ssekito said; "It's a welcome gesture that UNBS has done, we have been complaining about the quality of Chinese products for some time even before this incident happened".
Mr Ssekito added; "Big nations like US and European countries have been crying foul over China's substandard products. Uganda needs to worry because we are incapacitated and the only way to solve this problem is a total ban".
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 The Monitor. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
