Health official says Mengniu milk additive OMP safe but not legal

BEIJING, March 2 (Chinese media) -- A senior Chinese health official said here

Monday that the additive OMP in milk was safe but its import procedure is not

legal.

"As far as we know now, OMP is safe and will not affect people's health,"

said Chen Xiaohong, vice health minister, at a press conference here.

OMP, or osteoblast milk protein, is not yet listed as a legal food material

under current food safety law.

Mengniu Dairy, one of the country's biggest dairy firms, has used it in its

product line Milk Deluxe since 2005.

The importer of the additive should submit health impact evaluation

documents issued by the health authorities of export countries to the health

departments for approval and it should also pass the quarantine check, Chen

said. "Obviously, Mengniu did not do it."