EU ban on Chinese soya food for children

The European Commission today announced a new ban on food from China intended for infants and young children.

The latest target is all imports containing soya and soya products, and follows the discovery of high levels of melamine in Chinese soy bean meal.

In September, Brussels took the first steps against melamine-contaminated food from China, banning any products intended for youngsters and containing any percentage of milk, such as milk formula.

Officials also ordered the testing for melamine of all “composite products containing milk” before they could be considered for sale in the EU market.

Today the Commission said the additional ban to safeguard against contaminated soya would apply by the end of the week, following approval of a Commission recommendation to the EU’s Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health.

A Commission statement said: “The Commission will take measures to ban the import from China of food for infants and young children containing soya and soya products, after high levels of melamine were recently found in Chinese soy bean meal.

“Competent authorities in the member states will have to test all other feed and food containing soya and soya products originating from China before allowing imports. Only feed and food containing less than 2.5 milligrams of melamine per kilo (mg/kg) will be allowed into the EU.”

Last year the EU imported about 68,000 tonnes of various soya products or products containing soya worth nearly €35m. The list included soya beans, soya bean flour and meal, soy sauce and protein concentrates and textured protein substances.