Chinese ‘breast is best’ drive threatens dairy exporters
China Customs data showed IMF imports in January, 2015, up 26% year-on-year, to 12,000 tonnes. Leading suppliers were the Netherlands, Ireland, France and Germany. Supplies from New Zealand were down by 47%, attributed in part to continued lack of confidence following the Fonterra botulism scare.
China’s IMF market is set to grow to more than $30 billion by 2017, according to the Euromonitor consultancy, making the country a magnet for dairy exporters. However, China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee has began reviewing a draft amendment to the advertisement law, which proposes a ban on baby formula advertising, in order to promote breast feeding.
Only 28% of infants younger than six months were breast fed exclusively in China, well below the global average of 40%, according to 2008 figures released by UNICEF.A Chinese State Council health programme sets a target of 50% exclusive breast feeding by 2020.
Meanwhile, other dairy imports continue at well under last year’s levels. In the first two months of 2015, China imported 127,700 tonnes of whole milk powder, and 40,700 tonnes of skim milk powder, compared to 220,900 tonnes and 60,900 tonnes respectively in the same period in 2014.
