SINGAPORE: Milk products from China may soon be back on the shelves in Singapore.

Channel NewsAsia learnt this from the Singapore Toys and Confectionery Dealers Association after about 100 food importers met the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) for a closed-door dialogue on Monday.

The ban on China milk products has left many food importers grappling with piles of returned stocks and mounting losses.

In response to food importers' calls for help, the AVA has asked them to categorise their products according to the risk of melamine contamination.

They will then have to submit the products to AVA for testing, starting with "low-risk" items this week. These include confectionery products like bread, cakes and instant cereals.

Chocolates and biscuits go into the "medium-risk" group, while milk and milk powder are listed in the "high-risk" category.

AVA will bear the cost of the tests, which could take up to ten days per sample. Those that get the all-clear may be released for sale later.


- CNA/so