More than 2 tons of Chinese mitten crabs seized by Taiwan's customs officers recently were destroyed because they contained residue from a banned drug, an official from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday.The crabs from China, were found to have leucomalachite green, a type of toxic chemical (4.6 ppb), said Pan Chih-kuan, director of the FDA's Northern Center for Regional Administration.
The importers violated the country's zero-tolerance policy regarding the substance, Pan said.
According Taiwan's veterinary drug residue regulation, the importers have to return the goods in question to the country of origin or destroy the products.
Leucomalachite green is traditionally used as a dye for materials in industries. It can damage the human liver and kidney while increasing the risk of birth defects.
