China backs local infant formula – but weak birth rate threatens whole market China’s efforts to encourage the growth of domestic infant-formula manufacturers have weighed on overseas players but Beijing’s attempts to boost the country’s birth rate have failed, reducing overall demand. Beijing has been rolling out its Action Plan for the Promotion of Domestic Infant Milk Formula, published in May 2019, involving stricter manufacturing quality standards to improve parents’ perception of Chinese brands. China’s rationalization and standardization of the country’s dairy industry have bolstered consumer confidence in local manufacturers, which had been battered by the 2008 melamine scandal which was linked to thousands of illnesses and deaths of formula-fed babies in China. Clean Label Project's take on the matter: Infant Formula is the exclusive form of nourishment during the most vulnerable period of development. Any efforts to improve the health, safety, nutrient density, and accessibility are laudable. However, once trust in an industry is significantly compromised, regaining consumer trust will be an uphill battle. Read More: https://www.just-food.com/features/china-backs-local-infant-formula-but-weak-birth-rate-threatens-whole-market/