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New Zealand's Ambassador Apologizes to Chinese Consumers
Summary:Currently, supermarkets in China are still selling milk powder sourced from New Zealand and haven't received any government notice to remove products from the shelf.
New Zealand's Ambassador Apologizes to Chinese Consumers
January 29, 2013
Translated by Pang Lei
 
According to an article in today's Beijing News, Carl Worker (伍开文), New Zealand's ambassador to China, apologized to Chinese consumers yesterday for the concerns raised after the discovery of trace elements of the agricultural chemical in milk powder.
 
The ambassador emphasized that milk products from New Zealand are safe and that the presence of trace quantities of DCD are not harmful to people's health.
 
The ambassador said that the decision to stop using fertilizers containing DCD was not connected to the issue of food safety and that suspicions arose due to a lack of timely communication on the issue.
 
On Jan 24, New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) issued a press release commenting on the decision of two New Zealand companies to withdraw fertilizers containing dicyandiamide (DCD or 双氰胺) from distribution in New Zealand. DCD is a chemical that is sprayed on pastures in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the leaching of nitrogen into waterways.
 
On learning of this press release, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) quickly contacted the authorities in New Zealand and requested detailed information about the detection of small quantities of DCD in some milk powder samples.
 
Yesterday, Fu Wenbiao (付文飙), the deputy head of the general office of AQSIQ, told reporters that AQSIQ had already been in touch with New Zealand authorities on multiple occasions and that AQSIQ had already met with New Zealand's ambassador to China and asked for a detailed report on the issue. 
 
AQSIQ did not say whether China would begin testing milk products for the presence of DCD.
 
Currently, supermarkets in China are still selling milk powder sourced from New Zealand and haven't received any government notice to remove products from the shelf. 
 
The New Zealand Embassy in China today posted information about the presence of DCD in some milk samples and the decision to stop selling fertilizers containing DCD to its website.
 
http://www.nzembassy.com/zh-hans/china/news/双氰胺及新西兰乳品的相关信息
 
Links and Sources
The Beijing News: 质检总局调查新西兰奶粉双氰胺残留
http://www.bjnews.com.cn/finance/2013/01/29/246405.html


January 29, 2013
Translated by Pang Lei

According to an article in today's Beijing News, Carl Worker (伍开文), New Zealand's ambassador to China, apologized to Chinese consumers yesterday for the concerns raised after the discovery of trace elements of the agricultural chemical in milk powder.

The ambassador emphasized that milk products from New Zealand are safe and that the presence of trace quantities of DCD are not harmful to people's health.

The ambassador said that the decision to stop using fertilizers containing DCD was not connected to the issue of food safety and that suspicions arose due to a lack of timely communication on the issue.

On Jan 24, New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) issued a press release commenting on the decision of two New Zealand companies to withdraw fertilizers containing dicyandiamide (DCD or 双氰胺) from distribution in New Zealand. DCD is a chemical that is sprayed on pastures in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the leaching of nitrogen into waterways.

On learning of this press release, China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) quickly contacted the authorities in New Zealand and requested detailed information about the detection of small quantities of DCD in some milk powder samples.

Yesterday, Fu Wenbiao (付文飙), the deputy head of the general office of AQSIQ, told reporters that AQSIQ had already been in touch with New Zealand authorities on multiple occasions and that AQSIQ had already met with New Zealand's ambassador to China and asked for a detailed report on the issue. 

AQSIQ did not say whether China would begin testing milk products for the presence of DCD.

Currently, supermarkets in China are still selling milk powder sourced from New Zealand and haven't received any government notice to remove products from the shelf. 
The New Zealand Embassy in China today posted information about the presence of DCD in some milk samples and the decision to stop selling fertilizers containing DCD to its website.

Links and Sources
The Beijing News: 质检总局调查新西兰奶粉双氰胺残留

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