Press Release

From the Chinese Embassy in Kenya

September 23, 2008

On the Sanlu Milk Powder Issue

Earlier this month, some batches of the Sanlu Milk Powder were found contaminated by melamine. The Chinese Government pays great attention to this issue, launches emergency response mechanism and makes due arrangements to ensure the safety of milk and milk products in the market. National comprehensive tests of dairy products and reform of the dairy industry are under way with no compromise. More than 10,000 tons of baby formula milk powders impounded and recalled due to contamination have been destroyed.

I learnt from the local paper today that the Kenyan Government has banned milk and its related products from China due to the aforesaid issue. We understand the concern of the Kenyan side to this issue. The Chinese side is willing to solve this issue in cooperation with the Kenyan Bureau of Standards and other authorities in a scientific and objective manner. Though the volume of China’s export of milk and milk products to Kenya is very small, we are open to such information if the Kenyan side finds any problem and ready to provide all necessary support, to urge relevant Chinese companies to solve the problem in accordance with commercial practices.

We have seen a good momentum in the development of the China- Kenya relations in recent years, with a soaring bilateral trade which is mutually beneficial to both peoples. We believe the Kenyan side can handle the current milk powder issue properly.