China rejects beetle-infested soybean imports from U.S.

[TexasLawyer]

Source: Xinhua

China rejects beetle-infested soybean imports from U.S.

2007-09-28 23:06:17

BEIJING, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's quality control administration said on Friday that its Guangdong bureau had found live khapra beetles in soybeans imported from the United States.

A statement from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said the 460 tons of soybeans shipped by the U.S.-based Scoular Company contained the beetles and "other species of harmful insects", without elaborating. Ragweed seeds were also detected in the 21 containers. However, the soybeans were approved by the U.S. quality control inspection authorities as they are carrying the official certificates, said the statement.

The administration has informed the U.S. side, demanding an investigation and concrete measures to strengthen the inspection and supervision over its soybean exports to China, said the statement. The Guangdong quality control department has rejected the tainted soybeans and suspended imports of soybeans from the U.S. supplier according to Chinese law, said the statement.

The khapra beetle is considered to be one of the world's most feared stored-product pests. It can munch its way through a lot of plants, including wheat, barley, corn, sorghum, bean, peanut and other nuts. Ragweeds are harmful weeds which siphon off water and nutrition from crops.




Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-09/28/content_6809852.htm

[Donnachaidh]

1. pissing contest n/t

[robinlynne]

2. yep.

[BrklynLib at work]

3. So..are they just stricter on what comes in than on what goes out...or is this just "getting even"?

[Critters2]

5. It's getting even.

Bugs in soybeans are not a problem.

[Tempest]

9. The lead in the toys was not China's problem.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20903731/

[Deja Q]

12. Mattel apologized for the design flaw; using small magnets...

As many other companies have also cited toxic levels of lead paint, the pattern is a bit too straightforward.

Especially when Mattel said "may or may not" in order to cover their assets and said more than originally thought were recalled -- they did not say none of their toys had toxic levels of lead paint in them...

[Critters2]

13. Mattel didn't apologize because the lead was its fault.

It apologized because China "makes most of its toys and fattens its profit." The magnets were a design flaw. The lead paint was the manufacturer's fault. But Mattel wants continued access to cheap labor. So they apologized. A business decision, not an ethical one.

[TankLV]

17. the lead IS China's "fault" - they have NO saftey regulations...

funny how that works...

[Critters2]

4. All soybeans have bugs in 'em.

That's why God made food-grade diatomaceous earth. Lead in toys is a much bigger problem.

[Tempest]

6. The lead in the toys was Mattel's fault, not China's

Mattel apologized to China for taking the heat for Mattel's specification flaws.

[Critters2]

8. Oh, right.

That would explain it. If it were only happening with Mattel products. But it isn't.

[Tempest]

10. So you think Mattel was the only company skirting requirements?

That's some bubble you live in.

[Critters2]

11. No. I think Chinese manufacturers use lead-based paint.

A lot.

[arikara]

22. Mattel specified lead based paint?

Somehow I don't think so... likely they apologized because they don't want to lose their slave labour pool.

Then there's the toxic pet food and toothpaste that comes from China. Its not that I think the stuff we're offering is any better mind you. Pesticide and hormone laden frankenfoods?

Buy locally grown and produced if at all possible.

[Tempest]

7. Considering the piss poor state of U.S. agriculture controls

This comes as absolutely no surprise.

[Critters2]

14. Again, all soybeans have insects in them.

They're dealt with in processing. There's no way to harvest and ship large amounts of grain without bringing insects along. Apparently, controversy is the newest thing China is manufacturing.

[lonestarnot]

15. I thought they ate beetles over there.

:shrug:

[TankLV]

16. Let's see - lead in paint by shoddy workers versus naturally occuring insects in grain shipments...

I'll condemn CHINA and CHINESE COMPANIES and MATELL for their phoney apologizing for the shoody cheep offshore companies that have NO safty requlations in China and have cost AMERICAN JOBS because they'd rather pay a dollar a week than decent wages...

thankyouverymuch...

[fedsron2us]

18. Good job China has no problem with food price inflation

Oops apparently it has.

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20070927TDY08005.htm

This is one p**sing contest the Chinese won't be winning as they need US grains and pulses rather more than Americans need lead painted toys. Just as well they have all those US dollars to unload on the market.

[hedgehog]

19. Well at least we know the pesticide level was probably with spec.

Given that most of the US soy crop is now genetically modified, I'm wondering about the ragweed seeds. Were we shipping some that are ultra-resistant to herbicides?

[damntexdem]

20. But, damnit China, those beetles have protein!

Beetles plus soy make a very complete food!

;-)

[HowHasItComeToThis]

21. BEHOLD, A WORLD OF BULLIES

ALL AROUND