LONDON, Feb 25 (Reuters) – The European Commission has introduced new controls for arachidonic acid (ARA) oil imports from China, it said on Wednesday, after contaminated supplies of the ingredient made their way into batches of infant formula that caused dozens of babies across Europe to fall ill.
The contamination with the cereulide toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting forced several producers, including Nestle and Danone, to make widespread product recalls, costing them millions of dollars in lost sales.
The commission, in a document published on Wednesday, said arachidonic acid oil imported from China was likely to constitute a serious risk for human health.
“Consignments should be accompanied by an official certificate stating that all the results of sampling and analyses show the absence of cereulide toxin,” the commission said.
“To ensure food safety and to avoid the entry into the union of unsafe arachidonic acid oil originating in China, this regulation should enter into force as a matter of urgency.”
Nestle, Danone and other infant formula producers have suspended supplies from Cabio Biotech, the Chinese producer identified as being responsible for supplying the contaminated ARA.
Cabio Biotech could not immediately be reached for comment outside of Chinese business hours.
Asked this month about Cabio Biotech’s role in the recall scandal, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said: “I would like to point out that the Chinese government takes food safety very seriously and will continue to take strong measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.”
(Writing by Alexander Marrow; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
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