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Ministry to probe 'growth enhancer' claims
by Kong See Hoh
Press Digest
THE Health Ministry will investigate claims that pig farmers are using unapproved growth enhancer.
Its minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, says the pig farmers should learn from their experience and avoid a repeat of the beta-agonist incident in which the consumers boycotted them for using the banned substance in pig feed.
He said he has not received any report on the claims but stressed that the ministry will probe the matter.
Liow, who was speaking to reporters after a dialogue with food and beverage operators in Kuantan on Friday night, said this when asked for the ministry's response to claims by
Datuk Dr Donald Lee Chong Meng, a veterinarian, that some pig farmers in the country are using "imitation" growth enhancer ractopamine produced in China.
Liow said the action of these pig farmers could affect the whole pig farming industry, including the likelihood of another boycott of pork by consumer.
"We should learn from our mistake and not to repeat it. The Health Ministry will definitely investigate the matter," he said.
Lee told the daily that the cabinet approved the use of ractopamine imported from the United States three years ago.
He said what is worrying is that 90% of the ractopamine used by pig farmers in Malaysia now is imported from China.
He explained that the ractopamine manufactured in US meets international production standards and is safe to use.
"The ractopamine produced in China, which is three times cheaper, has not been registered with the ministry and we have reasons to doubt its production process and standard, especially after the melamine scandal," he said.
He suggested the government make it mandatory for companies importing ractopamine from China to register their drug with the government to ensure the quality and safety of the drug.
However, Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia's pig unit chief Beh Kim Hee said the ractopamine produced in China has been approved by the ministry and Veterinary Services Department (VSD).
He said the public must understand that unlike the banned growth hormone beta-agonist which can cause cancer, ractopamine, which is neither a hormone nor steroid, meets safety and health standards and is approved by the Malaysian government.
He said ractopamine is also approved by the US Federal Drug Administration for use in animal feed and that consumers should feel safe to eat pork.
He said to instill consumer confidence in the pig farming industry, the federation spends RM600,000 a year to carry out the beta-agonist monitoring programme in pig farms with the coordination of the VSD.
by Kong See Hoh
Press Digest
THE Health Ministry will investigate claims that pig farmers are using unapproved growth enhancer.
Its minister, Datuk Liow Tiong Lai, says the pig farmers should learn from their experience and avoid a repeat of the beta-agonist incident in which the consumers boycotted them for using the banned substance in pig feed.
He said he has not received any report on the claims but stressed that the ministry will probe the matter.
Liow, who was speaking to reporters after a dialogue with food and beverage operators in Kuantan on Friday night, said this when asked for the ministry's response to claims by
Datuk Dr Donald Lee Chong Meng, a veterinarian, that some pig farmers in the country are using "imitation" growth enhancer ractopamine produced in China.
Liow said the action of these pig farmers could affect the whole pig farming industry, including the likelihood of another boycott of pork by consumer.
"We should learn from our mistake and not to repeat it. The Health Ministry will definitely investigate the matter," he said.
Lee told the daily that the cabinet approved the use of ractopamine imported from the United States three years ago.
He said what is worrying is that 90% of the ractopamine used by pig farmers in Malaysia now is imported from China.
He explained that the ractopamine manufactured in US meets international production standards and is safe to use.
"The ractopamine produced in China, which is three times cheaper, has not been registered with the ministry and we have reasons to doubt its production process and standard, especially after the melamine scandal," he said.
He suggested the government make it mandatory for companies importing ractopamine from China to register their drug with the government to ensure the quality and safety of the drug.
However, Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia's pig unit chief Beh Kim Hee said the ractopamine produced in China has been approved by the ministry and Veterinary Services Department (VSD).
He said the public must understand that unlike the banned growth hormone beta-agonist which can cause cancer, ractopamine, which is neither a hormone nor steroid, meets safety and health standards and is approved by the Malaysian government.
He said ractopamine is also approved by the US Federal Drug Administration for use in animal feed and that consumers should feel safe to eat pork.
He said to instill consumer confidence in the pig farming industry, the federation spends RM600,000 a year to carry out the beta-agonist monitoring programme in pig farms with the coordination of the VSD.
Source:
http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=28132
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