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EU bans Peking Duck: council snoopers to shut down restaurant ovens in Chinatown
It is the nation's favourite Chinese dish adored by millions and a staple feature on the menus of restaurants and takeaways the length and breadth of Britain. But Peking Duck could now be forced into extinction by an EU ban on the ovens traditionally used to prepare it.Council inspectors have been busily visiting restaurants that use the ovens and sealing them closed with tape because they do not carry a CE (Conformité Européenne) mark certifying that the equipment meets safety standards on carbon-monoxide emissions laid down by Brussels. Ten restaurants in London including some in the famous Chinatown district have so far been affected and scores more in the capital will be hit in coming weeks. Other councils around Britain are also being urged to take similar action. The clampdown comes despite an admission by council officials that there have been no reported health problems linked to the ovens, which are made in China and are also used to cook Cantonese Duck and suckling pig. The ovens have been shut down by Westminster Council. The crackdown was launched after an official noticed the ovens were not CE marked during a routine inspection of Chinese restaurants in May. Westminster has now contacted other councils in areas with large Chinese populations to raise the issue. A council spokesman said: 'If the restaurants want to continue cooking ducks in the traditional manner they will need to get new ovens which will comply with EU standards by having CE marking. 'We are absolutely not picking on the Chinese community. This is an issue with any kind of ethnic type of food where they may well be using catering equipment imported from outside the EU. 'We are not aware of a single injury or accident involving these duck ovens but now we are aware of this issue we want to prevent any accidents happening.' In 2006, Westminster confiscated burners used on tables at Korean restaurants because they did not meet European safety standards. Posted by: Pappy 2008-07-20 |
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