SINGAPORE LIFTS IMPORT BAN ON CHINA MILK PRODUCTS By Zakaria Abdul Wahab

SINGAPORE, Dec 18 (Bernama) - Singapore has lifted the ban on the import of
milk and milk products, including products which contain milk as an ingredient,
from China.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) said Thursday products
produced
on or after Thursday's date would be allowed to be imported into the
republic.

Since Sept 19, the republic had suspended the import of all milk and milk
products from China, following the melamine scare in China-produced milk
products which had sparked panic among world consumers.

AVA said it had been working closely with the Chinese authorities to
facilitate the resumption of imports while ensuring food safety of imports of
milk and milk products from China, including freedom from melamine
contamination.

An AVA team inspected dairy farms, milk collection centres and food
processing establishments and assessed the overall control system in China,
the republic's food authority said.

AVA said it was satisfied with the control measures in place to ensure
that
milk and milk products from China imported into Singapore were not contaminated
with melamine.

However, AVA imposed three conditions on the Chinese manufacturers before
they could export their milk products into the republic. They are:

* Products must be produced by establishments approved for export by the
Chinese authorities;

* Manufacturers are required to test each batch of their raw materials and
end products to ensure they are not contaminated with melamine; and,

* Chinese authorities must inspect and test each batch of products and
issue
health certificates with results of melamine tests to accompany consignments
exported to Singapore.

AVA also assured local consumers that it would continue to monitor the
products imported into Singapore after the lifting of the ban to ensure that
they were not contaminated with melamine and were safe for consumption.

-- BERNAMA