IMPORTED FOOD DOES NOT CONTAIN RADITION

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Food imported into the country does not
contain radiation as none had been rejected from entering, the Lower House of
Parliament was told Thursday.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad said the ministry did not
receive requests on irradiated food from exporters except from one Australian
company.

"Only one company from Australia had applied to export irradiated mangoes
to
Malaysia," he said in reply to a question by Fuziah Salleh, an
opposition MP.

Fuziah wanted to know whether there were cases of imported food
containing
radiation detected after scanning by the ministry.

Dr Latiff said all imported food had to be declared to the Health Ministry
and Customs Department by providing documents and food samples.

For irradiated food, importers had to comply with section 396(2) of the
Food
Regulation 1985 where food meant for the irradiation process had to be approved
by the director-general of health.

"Under section 396(2), importers have to meet three conditions namely to
apply for permits from the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry, label
them and issue certificates from the countries of origin," he said.

-- BERNAMA