JOINT NEWS RELEASE BY ENV AND PPD

SUSPENSION ON SWITZERLAND AND BAN ON

TWO BRANDS OF INFANT MILK FORMULA LIFTED

Food products (except egg products) from Switzerland will now be allowed for sale. The Primary Production Department (PPD) and the Ministry of the Environment (ENV) are satisfied with Switzerland’s assurance that they have not imported tainted animal feed from Belgium. However, Switzerland had imported some eggs from Belgium during the risk period. Therefore Swiss products containing eggs or egg products are still not allowed to be sold unless they were made before 20 Jan 99.

This year, Singapore imported 2.9 tonnes of processed pork valued at $65,000 from Switzerland.

The ENV has also now allowed two brands of infant milk formula manufactured in Ireland to be sold in Singapore. They are "S-26" and "Promil". The ENV is satisfied with the declaration by the manufacturer, and endorsement by the Irish Authority that the ingredients used in these two infant milk formulae are not associated with the dioxin contamination in Belgium.

The public can call the following Hotlines for further clarifications:

PPD Hotline: 1800-2262250

For enquiries on chilled/frozen meat (beef, mutton, chicken, pork),

Canned and processed meat (eg. sausages, ham, etc),

Egg products (eg. egg powder and liquid eggs).

ENV Hotline: 1800-7319222

For enquiries on dairy products and confectionary (eg. milk powder, milk, cream, cheese, butter, ice-cream, yoghurt, chocolates, cakes and biscuits, etc).

Issued by: Ministry of the Environment

Primary Production Department

News release No 54/99

(If you have any queries, please contact Mr Goh Shih Yong (PPD), Tel 3257645, Pg 94124860 or Mr Tan Yew Soon (ENV), Tel 7319283, Pg 95111461 or Ms Michelle Tan (ENV), Tel 7319867)