May 3, 2013

Hong Kong milk powder producers and pharmacies have requested the government to remove the regulation restricting the amount milk powder which can be exported to mainland China.

Although smugglers have continued to bring Hong Kong milk powder onto the mainland, the bans and fines designed to prevent bulk-buying and exporting milk powder out of Hong Kong are extreme. Retailers report that sales of Hong Kong baby formula have dropped by more than 90%, according to Hong Kong newspapers.

However, an official from Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department stated that the government will not consider changing the policy until at least six months after it took effect.

On the mainland, China's national dairy association has begun taking action to rebuild public trust in domestic dairy products. An official from the China Dairy Industry Association said that Chinese-made milk powder in of better quality than imported varieties, and is half as expensive.

The restrictions have aroused controversy between Hong Kongers and mainlanders since their introduction. When the news that retailers were suffering came out this week, it was roundly mocked by Chinese netizens on Weibo.