New Zealand FM to visit Sri Lanka over ban

New Zealand FM to visit Sri Lanka over ban

Sri Lanka temporarily suspends New Zealand milk powder 

New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray McCully is likely to visit Sri Lanka next week to discuss its controversial ban on 39 tonnes of Fonterra's milk powder(products).

Sri Lanka's Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) reported the powder contained the dangerous fertiliser chemical dicyandiamide (DCD), which Fonterra and New Zealand scientists are disputing.

They say ITI doesn't have the technology to test for DCD, tests in New Zealand have been negative and farmers stopped using the chemical last year.

Prime Minister John Key says Mr McCully has been talking to the Sri Lankan authorities about the ban.

He expects Mr McCully will go to Sri Lanka at the end of the week after visiting China.

Fonterra is also talking to the Sri Lankan government to get its product back on the shelves.