September 2, 2008

China is stepping up on inspection and quarantine measures on meat products imported from Maple Leaf, a Canadian company involved in a fatal listeriosis outbreak in Canada, according to China's quality watchdog.

More than eight people in Canada had been killed by listeriosis due to contaminated meat products from Maple Leaf Foods.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said the company's Toronto plant, which produced the contaminated meat products, never exported products to China or obtained licenses to, while Canada had stopped China-bound shipments from the company's other related facilities.

The administration said it would be monitoring the situation and take timely measures to keep the tainted meat out of the Chinese market to ensure the safety of local consumers.