SINGAPORE: Singapore's Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has said there is insufficient information to identify the affected biscuits that have been recently destroyed by Chinese authorities.

AVA was responding to queries from Channel NewsAsia after a Reuters report on Tuesday said more than 1,500 boxes of Chinese biscuits exported to Hong Kong and Singapore have tested positive for melamine.

But AVA added all China-made biscuits sold in Singapore are safe for consumption.

It said all milk and milk products from China that were previously found to be contaminated with melamine have been destroyed.

It added that the biscuits from China currently available in Singapore were the ones recalled earlier, but the products have undergone batch by batch testing to ensure they are not contaminated with melamine.

AVA said it will only allow the import of milk and milk products from China which are produced on or after December 18.

To date, there have been no new imports of such products since AVA lifted the import suspension on December 18. Such products must also meet certain conditions.

For example, the products must be from establishments approved for export by Chinese authorities, which must inspect and test each batch of the products and issue health certificates with results of melamine tests to accompany consignments exported to Singapore.

Manufacturers are also required to test each batch of raw material and the end product.

In addition, AVA will continue to monitor the products imported into Singapore. The imported products will still be subjected to testing when they arrive in Singapore to ensure that they are not contaminated with melamine.

- CNA/yt