Many Chinese still continue to bring in Japanese milk powder despite ban

Some Chinese consumers, unaware of a government ban against importing Japanese milk powder, continue to bring the product into the country, according to customs authorities.

China suspended imports of Japanese milk powder and other related products since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Miyazaki, Japan in early April.

Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau said foot-and-mouth disease transmission to humans has been reported but is extremely rare.

Milk powder is sterilized at high temperatures, so people will not get infected with foot and mouth disease by drinking milk powder. The milk powder import ban is for animal epidemic prevention rather than food safety.

Many Chinese consumers buy Japanese milk formula online and have it mailed to China or it is directly brought back from Japan by friends, both of which are not allowed currently. From May until present, there have still been some tourists who, unaware of the ban, brought the Japanese formula to China, which was then confiscated at customs, according to Guangdong Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

The ban on imports of Japanese milk powder doesn't prohibit the sale. Currently, Japanese milk powder with a Chinese logo imported before the outbreak of the epidemic is on the market, and Chinese consumers can have confidence in its safety.

By People's Daily Online