Anlmal,Plant and Flsherles Quarantine and Inspection Agency

Korea Loosens Ban on Italian Dairy Products By Kim Se-jeong Staff Reporter South Korea relaxed a ban on Italian dairy products last Friday ― now applied only to Mozzarella cheese ― ending a six-day restriction on all Italian dairy products, said an official at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Two weeks ago, high levels of cancer-causing dioxin were found in Mozzarella cheese products from 25 companies in the Campania region, where they are made from buffalo milk. On March 22, the Korean government stopped inspecting all diary products from Italy and ordered a halt on the sale of Mozzarella cheese on the domestic market. On Friday, Italian Health Ministry was withdrawing products from 25 potentially hazardous companies in the region. The Italian Embassy in Seoul welcomed the announcement. "It is necessary to avoid any kind of undue generalization or unnecessary concern about this excellent Italian product," the embassy said in a press release. Japan took less restrictive measures, imposing a ban only on Mozzarella cheese. China also banned sales of Italian mozzarella cheese after Italy ordered a recall on Friday. Andrea Esteban Sama, the economic and commercial secretary at the embassy, stressed that adequate and imminent measures had been undertaken by Italian authorities, and that there are no health risks for Korean people. ``These farms have already been quarantined and inspected by Italian authorities. Mozzarella cheese marketed abroad is absolutely safe," Sama said. In addition, a press officer at the embassy said it's almost impossible to find the same product at ordinary grocery stores, indicating the risk to the public would be minimal. Eleven tons of mozzarella cheese was imported to Korea last year and consumed only at limited number of markets, restaurants and hotels where demand is relatively higher. An official at the Korean ministry said the complete clearance of the ban will be subject to progress made by the Italian government, and the exact timing is difficult to ascertain at the moment. skim@koreatimes.co.kr http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/special/2008/04/176_21608.html