Legal News

The EU has ordered that all imports containing at least 15% milk powder be tested for melamine, a chemical that has left more than 50,000 Chinese children sick and four dead.  Officials are mainly worried about cookies, toffees and chocolates.

It is illegal to import Chinese dairy products into the European Union, but many countries import food containing milk powder outside of Europe.  In 2007 alone, 19,500 tons of pastry, cake and biscuits and 1,250 tons of chocolate and cocoa products were imported from China. The FDA has expanded checks for Chinese milk products as well.

New Zealand and Australia have recalled a Chinese candy that contained high levels of melamine and Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan have already banned all Chinese milk products. 

Source: The New York Times, International Herald Tribune