Loren warns against smuggling, repackaging of banned China milk

Senator Loren Legarda called today on the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to strictly enforce the ban on milk products from China, even as she called on businessmen who may still have stocks of the banned dairy products to take them off the shelves.

Legarda aired the concern that if smuggled cars and tons upon tons of smuggled vegetables are able to slip past customs, the possibility of the banned milk from China still making it to local shores cannot be brushed aside.

She appealed to businessmen not to succumb to the temptation of repacking or using deceit to pass off the banned milk from China as originating from somewhere else just to be able to make money out of them.

"There had been reported deaths abroad related to their consumption. Thus, we must not play Russian roulette with the health of our people with contaminated milk," she said.

Legarda said that the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) did right in ordering a ban on China milk despite an announcement by Malacanang a day earlier that the brands of contaminated milk from China had not reached Philippine markets.

"What happened in a span of 24 hours?" asked Legarda. "From Malacanang being so sure about contaminated milk brands not being available here to BFAD banning all China milk products a day later."

The senator said that BFAD will have its hands full in testing not only milk from China, but also products derived from it like milk candy bars and whey milk protein powder.

In enforcing the ban on China-produced milk, Legarda called on local government units to help BFAD ensure that the banned items are not sold to the public.

She said customs may also need the help of the Philippine Coast Guard to ensure that the banned products are not slipped into the country through its unguarded coastlines.

"But the tests on the banned milk products must be fast-tracked as it would also be unfair to small businessmen if even products that are untainted and safe for human consumption stay banned just because of a lack of test results."

Nonetheless, Legarda noted the many instances that products from China had been found to pose dangers to consumers, like faulty appliances and light bulbs that may cause electrical fires, lead contaminated toys and canned goods that are not safe to eat.

"The health and safety of consumers is most important. I believe that the government must be quick in banning products suspected of posing dangers to consumers, pending verification and tests on them," she said.