Frozen food maker Katokichi Co. imported eel products from one of the 41 food processing companies recently ordered by the Chinese government to halt exports to Japan and other countries due to safety problems, Katokichi said.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>Katokichi said Friday it has halted domestic distribution of the imported products to check their safety, while convenience store operator Circle K Sunkus Co. said it was temporarily suspending orders and sales of eel products it purchased from Katokichi.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>Katokichi will check the imported products 'to make doubly sure' they are safe, the company said, adding it believes there are no safety problems because all of the products passed quarantine inspections by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>The company said it will decide whether to resume sales of the products as early as the beginning of this week after it receives the test results.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>The ministry said eels and eel products from China are inspected at quarantine stations.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>Katokichi declined to name its customers for the eel products other than Circle K. Other major convenience store operators said they do not trade with the Chinese firms subject to the order.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine recently ordered 41 food processing companies to halt exports of their products.</PARAGRAPH> <PARAGRAPH>The discovery of hazardous chemicals in Chinese products ranging from toothpaste to pet food has led some countries and regions to halt imports or warn their citizens about goods made in China.</PARAGRAPH> <SUBHEAD> Gunma problems</SUBHEAD> <PARAGRAPH> MAEBASHI, Ibaraki Pref. –

A substance derived from a banned antibiotic has been found in processed eel products imported from China, the Gunma Prefectural Government said.

A metabolite from the antifungal agent malachite green was detected in products sold at supermarkets in the prefecture, officials at Gunma's health and welfare bureau said Friday.

The amount of the detected substance was small, so consuming normal amounts of the products is not likely to pose a health risk, they said.

The products were first imported by Tokushima Uoichi in March. Because no banned substances were detected at that time, the health ministry approved their import. The products were delivered mainly to the Kanto region.

In Gunma Prefecture alone, the company delivered products equivalent to about 1,350 eels. The amount already sold is equivalent to about 1,100 eels. The rest was pulled from store shelves, the officials said.

Malachite green is an organic compound containing chlorine. Because of its antibacterial property, it is widely used for treating fungal diseases of aquarium fish.