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

Meat and Poultry

- frozen carcass and meat cuts
- processed meat and poultry

Eggs

-egg powder
-processed food products with >2% egg
-mayonnaise, pasta and cakes

Milk and Milk Products

- whole milk
- anhydrous milk fat
- butter
- cheese
- other dairy products with >2% milk fat

2. Advisory for the food industry

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.