Violators of China milk ban warned

‘Full force of law’ to be applied

By Joel Guinto
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 17:01:00 10/07/2008

MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo wants the “full force of the law” against violators of the government’s ban on the sale of milk products from China, suspected of containing the toxic substance melamine, officials said.

At a meeting of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) cluster of the Cabinet on Tuesday, Arroyo said issuing a “cease and desist” or stop order against businessmen who would violate the ban was “not enough,” Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

“The President wants to make sure that the full force of the law is enforced and that, we could possibly close down the stores who continue to violate the ban order,” Health Secretary Francisco Duque told reporters in a news briefing after the meeting.

“The President wanted to be very sure that [a] cease and desist order is not enough. The President wants complete legal action to be taken so people will be ensured,” Ermita said.

Duque said he would release on Wednesday the results of a second round of tests on Chinese milk products. The first round found two milk brands tainted with melamine and cleared 28 others.

The health chief said tests, specifically those being done in private laboratories, were expanded to include canned goods and cosmetics.

There have been no cases of melamine poisoning in the country, but in China, thousands of babies were reported to be suffering from kidney problems as a result of melamine contamination.

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