China tightens controls on production of infant formula

The State Council Information Office has held a press conference on the infant formula guarantee and other food safety measures. An official from China Food and Drug Administration has reviewed their work in supervision of food safety of infant formula last year. He has called on producers of infant milk powder to have a milk source built or controlled by themselves as well as research and development capability.

"During the past year, China Food and Drug Administration has strictly carried out the arrangements and requirements of State Council over strengthening the supervision of safety and quality of infant formula. We have effectively improved the safety level of infant milk powder. We have initially set up a strict supervision system concerning the production of infant milk and raised criteria for production permit. We also effectively prevented and controlled quality and safety risk of powdered formula for infant." Ma Chunliang, official of China Food And Drug Administration, said.

China has tightened controls on production of infant formula in wake of a 2008 tainted milk scandal that killed at least six babies.

And Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has vowed to tighten the monitoring of production of milk powder for babies and crack down on safety violators. Li said the quality of infant formula affects the nation's future. The government published a regulation on infant formula production last August.

The regulation raised the requirements of management, especially in the purchase of raw and supplementary materials, and the requirements of production conditions, such as the cleanliness of production environment. The draft is aimed at improving the quality of domestic-brand infant formulas, the reputation of which was seriously undermined by the 2008 tainted milk scandal.