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Hong Kong’s limit on baby milk formula to stay as fears grow demand from mainland China could cause repeat of shortage
- Documents filed to Legislative Council cite persistently high re-exportation of formula and no decrease in number of breaches to the law
- The ban was introduced in 2013 when parents complained of parallel traders leaving city with a serious shortage
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A ban on people leaving Hong Kong with more than two tins of baby milk formula will remain indefinitely amid fears lifting it may cause repeat widespread shortages, the city’s health authority said.
The Food and Health Bureau said parallel trading activities were persistent and relaxing the ban may trigger increased demand from the ever-rising number of mainland Chinese tourists.
“We cannot rule out the possibility the powdered formula shortage, which disturbed local parents before the export control was implemented in 2013, would reoccur,” the bureau stated in a document submitted to the Legislative Council’s panel on food safety and environmental hygiene on Monday.
Under the ban, people aged 16 or older were only allowed to carry 1.8kg of infant formula – about two tins – within a 24-hour period.
The public generally is concerned about whether there would again be a severe imbalance of demand and supply
People with a licence issued by the Director General of Trade and Industry would be exempt.
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