October 3, 2013

After a botulism scare on New Zealand milk products that sparked global recalls, Bangladesh has decided to amend the existing policy for importing milk powder, including documenation that products are melamine and that dairy cows have are not fed with hormone growth promotion substances.

The commerce ministry has already forwarded the proposed amendment to the import policy order 2013-15.

A senior official of the commerce ministry said the amended policy recommends that milk importers should provide customs authority with documents to import milk and milk-related products, certifying that the products are free of melamine while the milk will have to come from cows that have not taken hormone growth promotion substances.

The official said the ministry was seriously considering the issue as children's food products from New Zealand brand Fonterra might pose threats to public health.

The amendment to milk import policy is necessary because the exporter countries disagreed to provide the importers with the required certificate.

Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahemd said, "We have already taken measures to control the import of milk. The customs department will handle imported baby milk."

On August 4, China halted imports of all New Zealand milk powder after deadly bacteria were found in Fonterra's milk in China on August 3. Fonterra said it had supplied contaminated milk to its customers in nine countries, including the Coca-Cola Co, Danone SA and China's Wahaha.

Fonterra also said it had sold contaminated whey protein concentrate to eight customers in Australia, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Saudi Arabia for use in a range of products, including infant milk powder.