Ban lifted on 79 Chinese products

But all products will have to have a chromatrographic spectrum test to show that they do not have any traces of the chemical melamine.

Last September, after dairy products contaminated with the chemical were found in Panama, the Panamanian Food Security Authority AUPSA (Autoridad Panameña de Seguridad de Alimentos) withdrew from the market 79 products containing milk, or milk derivatives for analysis.

After performing tests on all of them, AUPSA found that 17 them traces of melamine and the products were destroyed.

The director of AUPSA, Gilberto Real said that the Panamanian government has taken the decision to ban products that contain even traces of the chemical.

“Unlike other countries such as United States, New Zealand and Canada that allow traces of up to 2.5 percent of melamine acceptable we have created a policy of not accepting any percentage whatsoever to safeguard the health of the population,” said Real.

“We have decided that any Chinese product that contains milk will have to have a certificate together with a test, to make sure that it does not have traces of the deadly chemical,” said the director.

Real also announced that at the beginning of 2009 a new laboratory will be opened to continue running tests on imported products.

Real said that AUPSA has been in contact with the Chinese community and the products’ owners, who are giving their full cooperation, due to the gravity of the situation.

There have not been any incidents of disobedience among the shopkeepers, who did not put up any resistance when the products were taken from the shelves.

Among the products destroyed are the popular Rabbit creamy candies, strawberry sandwich cookies, fruit milk drink and butter style cookies Danish Pride.

In Panama, there were no incidents of poisoning by melamine, because the authorities took quick steps as soon as they got the alarm from China and the United States.