Cablegate: France Increases Border Controls On Chinese Feed and Food

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RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHFR #3079 1981605
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 171605Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9010
RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHMRE/AMCONSUL MARSEILLE 1827
RUEHSR/AMCONSUL STRASBOURG 0453
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2716
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC

UNCLAS PARIS 003079

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS

BRUSSELS PASS USEU FOR AGMINCOUNSELOR
STATE FOR OES; EUR/ERA AND EB(SPIRNAK);
STATE PASS USTR FOR MURPHY;
STATE PASS FDA FOR VON ESCHENBACH/PLAISIER/BATTS
USDA/OS/JOHANNS/TERPSTRA;
USDA/FAS FOR OA/YOST/JACKSON/ROSADO;
OCRA/CURTIS/RADLER
OCBD/SHEIKH/SANDALH/SCHRAMM
OSTA/BREHM
OFSO/LEE/YOUNG;
USDA/FSIS FOR OA/GOLDMAN/QUICK
USDA/FSIS/OIA/STUCK/DANFORD

EU POSTS PASS TO AGRICULTURE AND ECON
GENEVA FOR USTR, ALSO AGRICULTURE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ETRD EU FR
SUBJECT: FRANCE INCREASES BORDER CONTROLS ON CHINESE FEED AND FOOD
SHIPMENTS, MELANINE CONTAMINATION FOUND.

1. (SBU) Following the lead of the U.S. to tighten border controls
following the discovery of melanine tainted feed from China, the
European Commission has asked Member States to reinforce safety
controls on Chinese imports. The French Ministry of Agriculture
(animal and animal product imports) and Ministry of Finance -
Consumer Protection (for other food imports) reacted by increasing
documentary and chemical audits of Chinese feed and food shipments
entering French points of entry.

2. (SBU) FAS Paris learned from Ministry of Agriculture contacts
that a Chinese soy-based ingredient shipment destined for France was
found to contain melanine when tested by Belgian officials in
Antwerp. The MinAg is waiting for confirmation of these preliminary
results. French officials remained concerned that all Member States
stay vigilant to prevent the importation of unsafe ingredient
products from China that might be processed into French feed
products.

3. (SBU) The Ministry of Finances' Fraud and Consumer Protection
Office (DGCCRF) and Customs Bureau also increased their inspections
of Chinese imports, both at the border and at processing plants, to
heighten the security of food products for human consumption.

4. (SBU) On June 29th, following the U.S. decision to ban some
imports of Chinese seafood until proven to meet U.S. requirements
and safety standards, EU officials asked Member States to elevate
their controls on these products as well. French health officials
may encourage the EU Commission to initiate more stringent measures
similar to those of the U.S.

5. (SBU) In 2006, China exported $ 6.1 billion agricultural, fish and
forestry products (up 17 percent from 2005) to the EU, of which more
than $ 680 million was exported to France.

Stapleton

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