UPDATED: 08:52, December 15, 2005
EU bans instant noodles from Thailand
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The European Union (EU) has temporarily banned instant noodles from
Thailand following the discovery of radiated seasoning packs in them,
according to a senior official from the Agriculture and Cooperatives
Ministry.

Thai instant noodle products shipped to the EU were recently
quarantined for a thorough re-inspection after an initial product
examination found that seasoning packs enclosed were radiated without
prior notifications to importers, said Deputy Director of the Office of
Agricultural Product Standard and National Food Somchai Charnnarongkul.

"The EU says the Thai products need to be re-inspected to find out
whether the radiation exceeds an accepted level of the international
food safety standards. If so, they must be totally destroyed or carried
back into Thailand," he was quoted by Thai News Agency as saying
Wednesday.

EU officials have traveled to Thailand to check the safety of Thai
instant noodle plants and food radiation processes, according to the
official.

The European authorities were initially dissatisfied with the food
radiation processes, claiming that it was sub-standard in hygienic
criteria and at the risk of contamination, revealed Somchai.

Thailand will upgrade the processes as required by the EU as soon as
possible, he said.

Source: Xinhua

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