South Korea has asked the Philippines to lift a ban it imposed on six Korean noodle brands after tests conducted on the noodles found the products contained "extremely low" benzopyrene, Xinhua news agency
reported.

In a statement issued by its embassy in Manila, Seoul said the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) tested the six noodle brands following reports that benzopyrene was detected in them.

"The KFDA conducted the test and issued a certificate dated Nov 7 that the level of benzopyrene found in the noodle powder, which ranges from 0.4 to 1.6 (parts per billion), was extremely low and has no harmful effect on the human body," the embassy said.

Benzoyprene is a cancer-causing compound usually found in cigarettes and smoked food products.
  
Seoul said it requested manufacturer Nong Shim Co. Ltd. to immediately recall the noodle brands after the Philippine Food and Drugs Administration disclosed on Oct 29 that it contained benzopyrene.
  
The Philippine government slapped a temporary ban on the importation of the six noodle brands on Nov 7.
  
"The ban on the importation is seriously impacting the exporters and importers of the Philippines and Korea as well as the image of Korean-made noodles," the embassy said.

The Korean government said it has not received any complaints that the noodles are harmful to the human body in other countries where they were being sold.

The Philippine government, however, said it will not lift the ban on the noodles pending the results of its own tests on the products.