New Zealand dairy products being inspected

The Health Ministry has imposed a level four surveillance on all dairy products from New Zealand, effective last Friday following the discovery of Dicyandiarnide (DCD) residue in the products. Its minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said although DCD was not regarded as a risk to food safety, close examination was necessary as a precaution. "I am told DCD is not dangerous and does not cause cancer but in the interest of the people, we will take samples from all the dairy products to ensure there is no contamination," he said during a visit to the health examination marquees at Batu Caves, here, in conjunction with Thaipusam, Sunday. Following reports on dairy products residue issued by Dairy Reporter and The Wall Street Journal last Thursday, Liow said fertilisers containing DCD used by farmers on grass to prevent the fertilisers from soaking into rivers did not have an international limit in usage as it was regarded as safe. He said close monitoring was also done on all dairy products in the local market to ensure they were safe and adhered to the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985. Liow said consumers who still doubted the status of dairy products in the local market could report to the District Health Office or State Health Department. Meanwhile, Liow also expressed pride on the appointment of Malaysia as a new member of the World Health Organisation's Executive Board (EB) at the 65th World Health Assembly in Geneva last May 23. Liow is WHO EB's standing committee chairman, whose role is to link up non-governmental organisations worldwide with WHO to discuss health issues for the benefit of people around the world. "After being unrepresented for 28 years, we are eventually appointed to WHO's Executive Board and given the mandate to select NGOs from throughout the world to help WHO in terms of activities, studies and appropriate aid to the grassroots," he said. Liow said WHO also expressed its desire to help Malaysia in the health transformation process, by giving suggestions and comments on the process being carried out.