Regulators may ban infant formula advertisements in China

Authorities are considering a ban on infant formula advertisements to deal with China’s low levels of breast feeding, Reuters reported, citing state media. The draft would ban ads in mass media or public places for dairy products, drinks and other foods that “claim to partly or completely substitute mother’s milk”, Xinhua said. The new proposal, an amendment to the country’s advertisement law now under review, would mean violators could be fined up to RMB1 million (US$161,220). (For more on this issue and why banning advertisements alone may not be enough, see CER’s in-depth report.)