Germany collagen drink blocked at border over excessive preservatives

Taipei, June 10 (CNA) A batch of collagen drinks imported from Germany was blocked at the border for exceeding the permitted preservative levels, the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said Tuesday.

The 500 kilograms of collagen drinks were found to contain 0.4 g/kg of benzoic acid and 0.4 g/kg of sorbic acid, meaning the combined preservative amount exceeded legal limits, said Cheng Wei-chih (鄭維智), head of the TFDA's Northern Center for Regional Administration.

The importer, Fucoidan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., will face an increased inspection rate of 20-50 percent at the border, up from the usual 2-10 percent, Cheng said.

A batch of nylon skimmers from China was also intercepted at the border after failing dissolution tests, according to the TFDA.

The importer, Dollar Star Hong Kong Ltd. Taiwan Branch, will also be subjected to the increased inspection rate of 20-50 percent, Cheng said.

Also on Tuesday's list of items intercepted at the border were dried black fungus and dried sliced galangal from Thailand, along with dried lily bulbs and dried pumpkin seed kernels from China, the TFDA said.

They were blocked due to excessive pesticide residues or heavy metal contamination.