Beijing to invest $1.72 mln in baby formula research  

北京劃撥千萬財政資金 專門研發嬰幼兒奶粉

記者近日從北京市科委獲悉，由科委立項，市財政撥付給北京三元的1077.97萬元即將到位，用于后者承擔的“安全健康嬰幼兒配方乳粉的研究與產業化”研發項目。據了解，政府為嬰幼兒奶粉研發專門立項，并撥付大額資金，在北京乃至全國都是首次。[查看全文]

The Beijing government will invest 10.78 million yuan (US$1.72 million) in a baby formula research program conducted by the Beijing Sanyuan Foods Co. Ltd., the Beijing Youth Daily reported on Monday.

This will be the first time a Chinese government department has funded a commercial baby formula program.

The three-year program will include an analysis of breast milk composition, a study on nutrition and the metabolic process, and tracking of the effects of feeding babies formula. Beijing Sanyuan will invest more than 10 million yuan in addition to the government funds.

Due to the melamine milk scandal in 2008, buying baby formula from abroad is popular among young Chinese parents. The domestic market is also dominated by foreign brands.

In 2008, authorities found that melamine, a chemical that causes kidney stones, was added to baby formula to make it seem richer in protein. The tainted milk powder claimed the lives of six infants and sickened tens of thousands of children. Beijing Sanyuan is the only listed dairy producer not involved in the scandal.

According to the Beijing government's 2014 budget plan, the formula research program funding will be much greater than funding for unmanned aerial vehicles and all-electric vehicles research.