Health Ministry inspectors crack down and shipments languish as 'Remedia effect' kicks in
By Ronny Linder-Ganz
The dire repercussions predicted by the Health Ministry as a result of the indictment of five ministry officials in the "Remedia affair" are materializing.
Three babies died and over 20 were injured in 2003 after being fed the non-dairy baby formula marketed by Remedia. The manufacturer, the German firm Humana Milchunion had removed an essential vitamin, B1 (thiamine) from the soy-based versiojn of baby formula. Remedia failed to inform the public, and the product labeling did not reflect the actual vitamin content, resulting in irreversible nervous-system damage.
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Israeli officials who were responsible for testing imported foodstuffs but failed to detect the changes to the formula were held personally responsible for their part in the affair and face criminal charges.
Now, one and a half weeks after the formal filing of the charges, Health Ministry officials at port quarantine stations are cracking down and adopting extreme testing policies, apparently in order to protect themselves against future criminal accusations. As a result, the release of foods from the ports is being delayed.
"The measures will harm the food industry within a very short time, endanger the jobs of hundreds of workers, cause imported food prices to increase and negatively impact all citizens of Israel," warned Oded Feller, president of the Israel Chamber of Commerce for Haifa and the North.
Indictments were filed against Dr. Dorit Nitzan, then director of the food and nutrition service at the time, and four inspectors at the quarantine stations at the Ashdod and Haifa ports, who were supposed to inspect food imports. In a letter sent by Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce President Uriel Lynn to Health Ministry Director General Avi Israeli earlier this week, Lynn said that the stringent policy was not a precautionary step but rather a protest: "Health Ministry quarantine station workers have overreacted from the moment the indictment was filed, by laboratory testing every single food shipment, a policy unprecedented in the Western world. This is a purposeful protest action a against the state attorney's decision, at the expense of the business sector and consumers. This is not just a case of taking extra care, but of actions that go beyond necessary caution on the part of civil officials," the letter said.
It continued, "The delay in inspection and release from customs causes immediate, heavy damage to importers, and in some cases the delay also negatively impacts quality, and in rare cases, even the safety of the food. Continuing this situation will mean the financial collapse of those involved in the business, and result in a severe chain reaction in the entire economy" he said.
In a letter of response to Lynn, Israeli voiced support for the actions of the ministry employees. "The Health Ministry has not changed its instructions," he wrote. "Nevertheless, and in light of the fact that indictments were filed, employees who must exercise judgment and make responsible decisions do so today under the heavy shadow that was created... ministry employees will continue to uphold the law and regulations to the letter, and in light of the interpretation that can be derived from the indictments."
A senior ministry official also defended the employees' actions. "Workers feel that they are exposed, and could be criminally indicted for any error of judgment without any support from the state. So what they are doing is legitimate and understandable," he said.
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