Legal action on tainted milk rests on importers, DTI says

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Legal action on tainted milk rests on importers, DTI says

THE Trade department will not seek compensation from China for shipping substandard milk products to the country unless importers ask for it.

“We need to have legal basis for asking compensation [from China]. We need to be informed by importers if such damages are covered in conditions governing their importation contracts, among others,” said Trade Senior Undersecretary Thomas Aquino in a text message sent to The Manila Times.

According to World Trade Organization rules, a member could call into question another member that fails to live up to its trade obligations, including provisions for product safety. While it is necessary for all WTO member-nations to allow free entry of imports, a member may ask the world trade body to restrict the sale of an imported product if there is scientific evidence that it poses a health risk. A member that violates a trade agreement should offer compensation to the offended country, or face trade sanctions.

As of Wednesday, the Bureau of Food and Drugs has found four products imported from China that are tainted with melamine. These are Greenfood Yili Fresh Milk, Jolly Cow Slender High Calcium Low Fat Milk 1 liter, Lotte Strawberry Snack Koala Biscuit, Mengniu Drink. China products that tested positive with the chemical are now banned from being sold in the country. Health experts warned that ingesting melamine could damage the kidney.