Singapore’s Food Agency( SFA ) announced on Monday, October 23, that it will no longer require imports of milk, milk products, or products containing milk from China due to melamine.
Since 2008, when methanol, a plastic-making substance, was found in infant dairy products made in China, the government’s dairy industry has been shaken by the requirements.
According to a circular from the SFA, China has since strengthened the control and operational processes for its cheese products, including tighter manufacturing licensing, stronger examination, detection, monitoring, and evaluation, as well as harsher penalties for products discovered to contain melamine throughout the dairy food chain.
The rearing of cheese cattle, the acquisition of new and fresh milk, and the transportation of such milk to dairy processing facilities were all covered by these measures, according to SFA.
According to recent SFA regulations, just establishments authorized for trade by the Chinese government may import milk, milk products, or products containing milk from China into Singapore.
Each batch of these manufacturers’ raw materials and finished goods must be tested to make sure they are no tainted with methanol.
Also, in order to accompany consignments sent to Singapore, the Chinese government must inspect and check each sample of the goods and issue health certificates with the findings of melamine tests.
Milk and milk products imported from China, including melted butter, cheese flour, cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt, will continue to be subject to SFA checks and must also cooperate with other active requirements for such imports, the agency added, even though the melamine-related import requirements may be lifted on November 1.
In 2020, the South China Morning Post reported that about 300,000 children in China had been poisoned by polluted milk in response to the 2008 methanol scandal. Six of them passed away.
22 businesses used the material to artificially increase protein degrees in their products.
The scandal’s perpetrators received harsh punishment from Chinese regulators. Two were put to death, and some were jailed for living.
However, the effect of the controversy on China’s dairy industry was also felt more than ten years later, with foreign companies nonetheless being regarded as” much more trustworthy ,” according to SCMP. & nbsp,
For more details, CNA has gotten in touch with SFA.