CHINA banned sales of a brand of Italian mozzarella cheese Saturday after Italy ordered the recall of the product because of fears it could be contaminated with cancer-causing dioxins.

The Chinese government agency that supervises product quality ordered importers to stop selling the cheese and to recall the Italian mozzarella that had already been sold, the official Xinhua agency said.

The mailing or carrying of the cheese into China was also banned.

"Every batch of other kinds of cheese products from Italy must go through laboratory tests before they are allowed into the country,?the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine was quoted as saying.

After Italy announced the recall Friday, Japan and South Korea blocked imports and Singapore halted sales.

France briefly banned sales of some Italian mozzarella but lifted the ban hours later after being assured by Rome that none of the suspect cheese had been exported there.

(SD-Agencies)