[ BFAD BUREAU CIRCULAR NO. 12, S. 1999, June 11, 1999 ]
INVENTORY AND TEMPORARY CESSATION OF DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCTS PRODUCED IN BELGIUM AND OTHER SUSPECTED COUNTRIES
To safeguard the interests of public health and for consumer protection, in view of news reports regarding the dioxin contamination of food in Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and France, you are hereby ordered to check inventory of processed meat and meat products, processed poultry, milk and milk products produced from January 1999 and to remove these stocks from commercial display and hold distribution until further notice from this Office. (See attached copy of products of concern and advisory for the food industry.)
You are hereby directed to submit to this office at the soonest possible time from receipt of this circular the inventory of the subject food products.
For your guidance and immediate compliance.
Adopted: 11 June 1999
(SGD.) WILLIAM D. TORRES, PH.D.
Director
Potential Dioxin Contamination of Food in Belgium
1. Products of concern
You are hereby directed to submit to this office at the soonest possible time from receipt of this circular the inventory of the subject food products.
For your guidance and immediate compliance.
Adopted: 11 June 1999
Director
1. Products of concern
Meat and Poultry2. Advisory for the food industry
- frozen carcass and meat cutsEggs
- processed meat and poultry
-egg powderMilk and Milk Products
-processed food products with >2% egg
-mayonnaise, pasta and cakes
- whole milk
- anhydrous milk fat
- butter
- cheese
- other dairy products with >2% milk fat
Importers
- stop importation of above products from Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands until such time that assurances are made by their respective health authorities
Supermarkets and Duty-Free Shops
- check stock inventory for above products that were produced from Jan. 99
- hold distribution until cleared by DA or DOH
Manufacturers
- check origin of raw materials for production of above processed food
- hold distribution of products with raw materials that may be potentially contaminated or shipped to the Philippines from Jan. 99
- obtain confirmation for EU Health Authorities through suppliers that product/raw materials are free from dioxin contamination
Consumers
- inform consumers that adverse effect in humans usually occur only after prolonged exposure to high levels of dioxins. Nevertheless, precautions should be taken by avoiding consumption of above products originating from the concerned EU countries until further advisory from DOH.