Illegal food, medicines destroyed
In a K200 million bonfire, illegal food and medicines seized by Mandalay’s Food and Drug Administration were torched at the city’s Aye Yeik Nyein Cemetery on June 19.
U Min Aung Phyo, head of Mandalay City Development Committee’s Cleansing Department, said the products included chilli powder, chilli sauce, fish paste, bamboo shoots, fried beans, candy and bean curd cakes.
Companies also handed in expired medicines and unsold household goods.
FDA worked with the city’s health and trade enhancement departments on inspections carried out between June 4 and 8, seizing 242 kinds of goods and 57 varieties of illegal food products from five markets. Inspections conducted from June 8 to 12 in 30 pharmacies in four Mandalay townships yielded more than 30 kinds of low-quality, illegal or expired medicines. The value of the foods and medicines was estimated at K200 million (US$180,000).
“When we checked food stalls and pharmacies, we found food and medicines that can make people sick. We are now raising awareness of this problem, and if we find more such food or medicine subsequently, we will take action, including revoking licences,” said deputy FDA director Dr Kyaw Kyaw.
“As a result of the inspections, big pharmacies and pharmaceutical and food companies handed in expired foods and medicines on their own initiative. We will continue with this course of action in order to eliminate the black market in medicines,” he said.
The destruction of illegal foods and medicines started in 2000, and the June 19 bonfire was the 19th time such products have been destroyed, said FDA.
Store manager Ko Yan Naing Linn, who handed in expired foodstuffs and medicines for destruction, said, “Our policy is to provide healthy food. We dispose of any products that are past their sell-by date.”
Translation by Win Thaw Tar
(Quote from Myanmar times online website on 22 June 2015)