A tainted egg is seen. (Photo/Chinanews.com)
(ECNS) -- The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed on Thursday that tainted European eggs have not entered the Chinese mainland market.
"By far, no eggs of any European countries have been approved by the Chinese government, so there are no such eggs to be found on the local market, said Jin Fazhong, deputy director of the Agricultural Product Quality and Safety Supervision Bureau, an arm of the Ministry of Agriculture, at a news conference.
The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) cautioned consumers against eating eggs with the code 2-NL-4015502 due to severely elevated levels of the harmful substance fipronil. The warning concerned eggs from a single producer that are currently being recalled.
The Netherlands produces over 11 billion eggs annually, according to media reports, over half of them exported to countries including Germany.
Jin said the agricultural ministry has paid close attention to the event, adding that fipronil is a pesticide prohibited in the poultry sector. The government applies strict supervision over the use of such pesticides.
The ministry will do all it can to further protect public health and ensure food quality, Jin said.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), fipronil is "moderately toxic" to humans. It may damage the kidneys, liver or thyroid gland if consumed in large quantities. In case of prolonged consumption, fipronil can become a health hazard, the NVWA said.
