China halts German pork and egg imports due to dioxin scandal

China halts German pork and egg imports due to dioxin scandal

2011-01-13 08:17:26 GMT+7 (ICT)

BERLIN, GERMANY (BNO NEWS) -- China on Wednesday announced it suspended all imports of pork and egg products from Germany due to the dioxin scandal, the Welt newspaper reported.

The imports ban went into force on Tuesday following reports that indicated that eggs contaminated with the German dioxin entered China through Macao. This information was proved to be wrong but Chinese food safety authorities decided to halt imports as a precaution.

The German Agriculture Ministry is currently examining pork and egg products to contain the spread of the poisonous dioxin that aids the development of cancer. Until last week, more than 1,000 chicken farms across Germany have been banned from selling products and over 8,000 chickens have been culled.

The dioxin is contained in a fat put in animal food to give an energy boost. It was sold to 25 German feed manufacturers by Harles and Jentzsch, a farm in north Hamburg. German officials assured that the concentration of dioxin does not represent a risk to human health.

However, operations to contain the dioxin have been conducted throughout Germany. About 150 pigs were slaughtered in the district of Verden as they were given food containing the dioxin.

The Agriculture Ministry denied that the dioxin-contaminated pork reached the market. In contrast, a spokeswoman for the Agriculture Department said that it was probable some contaminated meat was sold to consumers.

German authorities said that the main products under suspicion are eggs and pork meat. The Ministry recommended German citizens to buy organic eggs instead as they have not been affected by the dioxin.

Local consumers are divided on following the authorities' advice as organic eggs are more expensive than 'regular' eggs. According to a survey, 47 percent of Germans are not willing to pay more money for their daily shopping.

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