Chalerm wants to protect trade ties with China

He said he was afraid the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s report on the contaminated imports would affect Thailand's trade ties with China.

He said he would ask people who personally know the Chinese ambassador and the chairman of the Chinese Association in Thailand to first explain the situation to the envoy in an informal setting.

"I did not mean that I am afraid of China, but we [the government] have to be concerned about our commercial relationship, because Thailand trades a lot with China," he said.

Chalerm has also advised the FDA to issue a press release instead of holding a press conference to explain the situation. He said public declarations of the problem would have an adverse effect on China.

He worried that China might think that FDA's action would create trade barrier for its product import to kingdom.

Meanwhile, the FDA is freezing 60 tonnes of milk powder imported by Dutch Mill for further investigation and results should be released within the week. If the powder is found contaminated, the FDA will reject the import permit for this shipment.

The FDA is also planning to issue regulations that allow no more than 1 milligram per kilogram of melamine in milk powder and no more than 2.5mg of melamine in milk-based products. Anybody caught abusing the law would face six months to two years in jail and be fined Bt5,000 to Bt20,000.

Chalerm said he would sign the regulation immediately after the government has presented its policies to the Parliament on October 9.

Newly appointed FDA secretary-general, Pipat Yingseri said, so far, the FDA had not banned the import of milk and milk-based products from China.

FDA is monitoring and carefully controlling every detail in the situation, and since its measures comply with world standards there is no doubt trade with China would be affected.