2011-06-06 21:09

BEIJING - The Chinese mainland has added 21 products to its blacklist of imports from Taiwan that have been contaminated with an industrial chemical used to soften plastic products, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said Monday.

Related readings:  66 more Taiwan goods banned  Mainland steps up import ban on tainted products  Import ban stepped up on DEHP-tainted products  Food quality probes

As of Monday, the Chinese mainland has banned imports of 945 products from Taiwan, according to a statement posted on the AQSIQ website. Most of the banned products are beverages and sandwich spreads.

The AQSIQ previously issued an import ban on June 1, when the quality watchdog said that the mainland would suspend imports of 22 types of beverages, food products and additives from Taiwan that are produced by companies suspected of using bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP).

The food safety commission under the State Council, or China's Cabinet, has also ordered increased inspections and instant recalls of beverages, food products and additives contaminated with DEHP.