September 24, 2008

Japan governors want government to halt Chinese milk imports

Japan's regional governors have asked the central government to suspend imports of all Chinese dairy products after tens of thousands of children fell sick in the neighbouring country.

The National Governors Association, composed of heads of Japan's 47 prefectures, said in a petition "people's distrust is growing over food made in China."

"The nation needs to eliminate tainted food from the market quickly and surely so as to protect the lives and health of its people," it said.

The petition was to be submitted to the health ministry after Tuesday's public holiday.

"The government needs to take measures swiftly," Wataru Aso, governor of southwestern Fukuoka prefecture, told reporters Monday.

Around 53,000 Chinese infants have become sick after drinking formula laced with melamine, a chemical used in plastics, which can also make milk appear to be full of protein. Four children in China so far have died as a result of the poisoning.

In Japan, food maker Marudai Food Co. (2288.TO) is recalling thousands of food products fearing contamination by tainted Chinese milk, although no one has reported illness.

Food safety has become a major political issue in Japan. Ten people suffered pesticide poisoning in December and January and thousands of others reported feeling sick after eating frozen dumplings imported from China.

Japan is also embroiled in a separate scandal over pesticide-laced rice that made its way to hospital patients and schoolchildren. The farm minister resigned over the row last week.

Asia's largest economy imports 60 percent of its food, the highest rate of any rich country.