Asia > South-Eastern Asia > Philippines > Philippine government has prohibited the import of Taiwanese food products

Philippines: Philippine government has prohibited the import of Taiwanese food products

2013/06/11

The Philippine government has prohibited the import and sale of 15 kinds of Taiwanese food products that contain starch due to concerns over possible maleic-acid contamination. A presidential spokesman in Manila stressed yesterday that the ban was imposed for public safety and had nothing to do with the shooting of a Taiwanese fisherman that prompted sanctions from Taipei.

The Food and Drug Government (FDA) of the Philippines announced the ban on the 15 foods on its official website.

It said that the affected categories of Taiwanese products include tapioca starch, tapioca pearls, Kuan Miao noodles and rice noodles.

The Philippine agency's notice stated that these products are not legally registered with the Philippine government and that long-term consumption of food items containing maleic acid can be harmful to the kidneys.

The statement urged consumers to be cautious at the same time as buying imported foods and said it will continue to closely monitor the inflow of food products from Taiwan to make sure that the related products go through safety testing and proper registration with the government.

The ban on the products will remain effective until suppliers and importers complete the required procedures and prove that no traces of the toxic materials are present in the foods.

Enjoying increasing popularity in recent years, some food products manufactured in Taiwan have been widely distributed at large supermarkets in major Philippine cities and in stores in overseas Chinese communities.

A lot of food processing firms in the Philippines have as well expanded imports of food ingredients from suppliers in Taiwan.

A deputy Philippine presidential spokesman said in an interview with the national radio broadcaster yesterday afternoon that the FDA notice resulted from a routine food product test.

He added that the decision of the FDA, which is responsible for food safety and the monitoring of imported goods, was made purely out of public safety considerations and was not a counteraction against the sanctions taken by Taiwan against the Philippines.

Tensions between the two neighboring nations escalated recently next an unarmed Taiwanese fishing boat was shot at by a Philippine government vessel, resulting in the death of a fisherman.

But the two sides have as well stepped up cooperation on investigations to find those responsible, aiming to reinstate normal bilateral relations as any minute at this time as possible.

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