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| Danone baby milk rationed in UK over China export fear | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Retailers in the UK are rationing sales of powdered baby milk, because of a surge in demand for foreign-made baby milk in China. | Retailers in the UK are rationing sales of powdered baby milk, because of a surge in demand for foreign-made baby milk in China. |
| Danone, the manufacturer of Aptamil and Cow and Gate baby milk powder, said most retailers were introducing a limit of two cans per customer. | Danone, the manufacturer of Aptamil and Cow and Gate baby milk powder, said most retailers were introducing a limit of two cans per customer. |
| It said the limit was to prevent some individuals from bulk-buying baby milk for "unofficial exports". | It said the limit was to prevent some individuals from bulk-buying baby milk for "unofficial exports". |
| It said it was also increasing milk production to meet the shortfall. | It said it was also increasing milk production to meet the shortfall. |
| "We understand that the increased demand is being fuelled by unofficial exports to China to satisfy the needs of parents who want Western brands for their babies," said Danone in a statement. | "We understand that the increased demand is being fuelled by unofficial exports to China to satisfy the needs of parents who want Western brands for their babies," said Danone in a statement. |
| Chinese thirst | |
| "We would like to apologise to parents for any inconvenience caused by this limit. We know that most parents only buy one pack at a time, so we hope that the impact of this limit on UK parents will be minimal," it added. | "We would like to apologise to parents for any inconvenience caused by this limit. We know that most parents only buy one pack at a time, so we hope that the impact of this limit on UK parents will be minimal," it added. |
| Supermarkets Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons said they have limited purchases to two units per customer. | Supermarkets Asda, Sainsbury's, Tesco and Morrisons said they have limited purchases to two units per customer. |
| Foreign-made baby formula are popular in China, especially since a locally manufactured formula laced with the industrial chemical melamine killed six infants in 2008 and caused another 300,000 to fall ill. | |
| Earlier this year, shops in Australia were forced to restrict sales of infant formula, as Chinese customers and tourists bought them in bulk to send them home or to sell them online. | |
| Authorities in Hong Kong also introduced restrictions in February to prevent shortages, banning travellers from leaving the territory with more than 1.8 kg (4lb) of formula. Last month, 10 people were arrested there for trying to smuggle more than the allowed amount into mainland China. | |
| Danone said it was taking action to respond to the shortfall in the UK, including increasing production of milk, which means extra supplies of all its brands are arriving every week, according to BBC business correspondent Emma Simpson. | Danone said it was taking action to respond to the shortfall in the UK, including increasing production of milk, which means extra supplies of all its brands are arriving every week, according to BBC business correspondent Emma Simpson. |
| Boosting production | |
| Danone is also increasing production and supplies of its brands that are already available in China, in order to meet demand there. | Danone is also increasing production and supplies of its brands that are already available in China, in order to meet demand there. |
| But it added: "If parents are unable to find their baby's usual brand of milk, we recommend they try another local store or revisit the store on another occasion." | |
| Richard Dodd, head of media and campaigns at the British Retail Consortium, said: "A number of retailers are limiting the amount of baby milk that can be bought by any one customer. | Richard Dodd, head of media and campaigns at the British Retail Consortium, said: "A number of retailers are limiting the amount of baby milk that can be bought by any one customer. |
| "This is being done at the request of the manufacturers, who believe it's possible that some organised groups of customers are buying up products in unusually large quantities for export. | |
| "Retailers are taking this precautionary step to ensure stocks continue to be available to everyone wanting baby milk," he added. | "Retailers are taking this precautionary step to ensure stocks continue to be available to everyone wanting baby milk," he added. |