http://www.gmanews.tv/story/138338/China-bans-pork-imports-from-Ireland#China bans pork imports from Ireland
Article posted December 09, 2008 - 12:29 PM
BEIJING — China has banned all imports of pork from Ireland after some of the meat was found to be contaminated with high levels of a chemical.
China's quality watchdog will recall Irish pork products imported since Sept. 1, a notice on its Web site said Monday. Ireland has recalled all its pork products produced after that date.
China imported 2,047 tons of pork products from Ireland since the beginning of September, according to a notice on the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.
The Irish government announced Saturday that some Irish pork contained illegal levels of dioxin chemicals and issued an international warning not to consume Irish pork products.
Dioxins, which are naturally occurring and can enter an animal's system through its food or environment, accumulate in the pig's fat — and, if ingested by humans in sufficient volume, have been linked to an increased risk of cancer.
Officials say the contamination source was a single animal-food maker in southeast Ireland that supplied feed to nine Irish pig farms.
The European Union and China recently signed an agreement to improve the way food safety alerts are shared between the two trading partners, after several high-profile recalls involving Chinese-made dairy products and pet food. - AP
All Rights Reserved. 2006 © GMA Network Inc.
Author