More than 300 agencies 'credible' for melamine testing

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-03 10:24

BEIJING -- China's quality watchdog published on Thursday a list of more than 300 testing agencies approved to conduct melamine testing.

The list announced by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine includes the Beijing-based testing center under the Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, the testing center for animals, plants and food under the Tianjin Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, and Taiyuan Bureau of Quality and Technical Supervision.

The administration said it would continue to update the list of "credible" agencies on its website so that both dairy producers and consumers could find among the list an appropriate agency for the melamine testing.

Some 13,000 infants nationwide were hospitalized with kidney problems and at least three were killed after drinking baby formula tainted with the toxic chemical of melamine, which was added to raw milk so the protein content of the milk appears higher than it actually is.