Ban lifted on Belgian egg whites, dairy goods

[John Visher <visherjc@crisscross.com>]

(August 5)

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/news8-99/news.html#story12

Ban lifted on Belgian egg whites, dairy goods

          The Health and Welfare Ministry on Thursday lifted its
temporary ban on the import of egg whites and dairy products from
Belgium after it
          confirmed that these shipments were not contaminated with
dioxin.

          The ministry had slapped the de facto ban on these products
after its was discovered in June that the Belgian produce may be
          contaminated with the carcinogen.

          Import restrictions will remain in effect for chicken eggs,
excluding egg whites, as well as meat from Belgian chickens, pigs and
cows,
          ministry officials said.

          According to studies on 1,300 dairy product samples by Belgian
authorities, no trace of dioxin has been found, and fresh milk from 236
          farms believed to have used contaminated feed was also
problem-free.

          Egg whites, which are used in powder form as an ingredient for
cakes and cookies, have low fat content, and fat is where dioxin usually

          accumulates. Studies of egg whites also showed no
contamination.

          The European Union has already removed dairy products and egg
whites from its list of items to be collected and disposed of, and the
          Health Ministry decided to follow suit after its own probes
showed no problems, officials said.

          According to the ministry, roughly 1,100 tons of dairy
products and about 150 tons of processed egg whites imported between
Jan. 15
          and June 1 have been affected by a suspension of customs
clearance or voluntary sales restraints.