March 3, 2009
China's courts to deal with tainted milk compensation requests
Courts in China have begun accepting compensation pleas filed by victims' families in the tainted milk scandal.
Qingdao intermediate people's court in Shandong province Monday (Mar 2) accepted the cases of 54 families whose infants developed urinary illnesses after drinking milk powder formula produced by Qingdao-based Syrutra International Inc.
The Sino-US joint venture, which produces milk formula under the brand name Shengyuan, came under the spotlight last September for being one of the top three brands containing the most excessive amounts of melamine. The banned chemical was added to dairy products to falsify protein tests. At least six infants were killed and 296,000 children fell ill after consuming the tainted milk.
A small number of the infant victims' parents have not accepted the government-led compensation and have prepared pleas, Shen Deyong, executive vice-president of China's Supreme People's Court said during a live webcast on People.com.cn.
He added that the people's courts at various levels will accept the compensation cases according to the law.
In another development, Shijiazhuang intermediate people's court called the lawyers representing 117 families whose children became ill after drinking Sanlu's milk powder to arrange a meeting on Wednesday (Mar 4).
Lawyers had sent compensation pleas to the same Shijiazhuang court twice but the court had not responded.
The Health Ministry said at a press conference Monday (Mar 2) that the compensation offered by 22 diary firms has been nearly all handed out to the victims.
A compensation fund of RMB900 million (US$131.53 million) was set up by these firms to provide for the victims' healthcare until they become adults.
