A statement put on the website of the Ministry of Commerce warns against the sudden boom of importing milk powder, adding import companies should be concerned with the risks in the market.
The Chinese government predicts 40,000 tons of milk powder could be imported in January, including 3,000 tons of infant formula milk powder.
In December, China bought 31,000 tons of milk powder from overseas places, including 5,000 tons for infants. Friso, Cow & Gate and Mead Johnson were among the most popular foreign milk powders in 2009, reported local media.
Shipments of powdered milk coming into China have increased since a December 2008 investigation revealed there was melamine-tainted milk powder produced by
Shanghai Panda Dairy. Three suspects were arrested.
China's dairy industry has been suffering from the curse of melamine since then, when the toxic milk powder made by Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province-based dairy producer Sanlu killed sox babies and poisoned 300,000 more kids nationwide.
Two men involved were executed in November.
