KUALA LUMPUR: The Health Ministry has raised the alert on New Zealand dairy products and will sample every consignment passing through entry points in Malaysia.

The decision to raise the alert to Level 4 of the Food Safety and Information of Malaysia (FoSIM) was based on reports of dicyandiamide (DCD) contamination in dairy products from New Zealand.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said his ministry had taken note of reports that the fertiliser had been found in those dairy products.

“We are very concerned and have put these products on high alert,” he said after visiting his ministry’s booth during the Thaipusam celebrations at Batu Caves yesterday.

FoSIM Level 4 requires every consignment from the source country to be sampled, while Level 5 requires the consignment to be sampled and held at port, and Level 6 for the consignment to be rejected.

Liow said the ministry would monitor dairy products sold on the local market to ensure they were safe and complied with the Food Act 1983 and the Food Regulations 1985.

He said although DCD had not been proven to cause cancer, it was still a contaminant.

On a separate matter, Liow said Malaysia had been chosen to be a member of the World Health Organisation’s executive board.

“Malaysia has not been represented on the WHO for 28 years. I am sure our country can make a meaningful contribution,” Liow said.

He said Malaysia had also been elected chairman of a WHO standing committee for NGO reform.

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