Chinese Government to restrict baby formula firms to three brands

BEIJING- Baby formula manufacturers in China will be limited to making three brands each under rules that will come into effect this month due to an increased Government focus on quality. Sources say that milk powder producers will for the first time also be required to register their formulas with the China Food and Drug Administration, much as drug companies must do for medicines.

The regulations also apply to foreign manufacturers importing products or selling over the Internet.

Tightening of these regulations – a draft was released in September that limited producers to five brands – is due to public distrust of domestically-made formula that started in 2008 when products were found to be tainted with a chemical that killed several babies.

Food safety authorities say they found 12 batches of baby formula products made by seven domestic manufacturers which fell short of standards during random inspections between July to September.

Bulk buying of baby formula products by Chinese reselling the products into China has become widespread in a number of Western countries, including Australia, leading to shortages on supermarket shelves. In Hong Kong, limits have been placed on purchases. www.webershandwick.cn (ATI).