China's top quality watchdog on Saturday denied the competence of the International Food Packaging Association (IFPA) to test tableware made from melamine, and said such tableware produced by licensed companies and sold on market were up to standard.

There have been media reports that some melamine tableware had ingredients that were poisonous when heated. However, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) found "all melamine tableware made by legal manufacturers are safe to use".

Most media reports on poisonous tableware quoted Hong Kong-registered IFPA and Beijing-based Kaifa Environment Protection Technology Consulting Center. However, the AQSIQ called both institutions are "incompetent and incapable to conduct tests."

The IFPA's secretary general is the same person as the consulting firm's legal representative. Both institutions' test samples, inspection procedures and conclusions were not scientific, the AQSIQ said.

The administration had organized special tests on all different types of tableware made of melamine since last month and the results showed all these products were safe to use, it said.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2009)