Anlmal,Plant and Flsherles Quarantine and Inspection Agency

The government plans to launch inspections of butter imported from China as public distrust over dairy products with a ``Made in China'' label increases. The move comes amid the melamine-contaminated baby formula scandal, which has so far left four infants dead and 6,200 others have developed kidney stones. The plan was announced Friday after the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that roughly 182 tons of butter had been imported since February. ``We confirmed that no dairy products have been imported from China as yet. To relieve public concern, however, the government decided to inspect all Chinese products with milk ingredients,'' an agriculture ministry official said. According to the ministry, three Chinese companies that produced the imported butter in question were not among the 22 Chinese firms reported to have produced melamine-contaminated baby formula. ``The three Chinese firms have nothing to do with the ongoing scandal so their products are safe,'' the official said. The inspection will be completed in a week. Melamine is used in the production of plastics and fertilizers and is banned from use in food production. AP reported that Chinese police have arrested 18 people as the government there expanded its crackdown on those involved in the tainted milk powder scandal. Six people are accused of selling the industrial chemical melamine. The other 12 people arrested were milk suppliers accused of selling contaminated milk. Meanwhile, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Friday said it has found traces of melamine in locally circulated fish food. The feed was made by a company in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province that produced the feed using powered squid, the ministry said. 2008.9.19. Excerpted from 'The Korea Times'