The Chinese government will soon set standards and test the quality and safety of dairy products, in hopes of building a healthier and safer dairy industry. The decision was announced at the 2009 Hohhot Forum on June 2.

Song Kungang, director of the China Dairy Industry Association, said the new standards for dairy products will involve 63 physical and chemical test methods, as well as 14 biological analysis methods.

The dairy industry is one of China's most important food industries. It has developed at a very rapid pace in recent years, and there are now more than 700 national dairy brands in China.

Last year's Sanlu milk scandal caused thousands of infants to suffer from kidney stones. The company's baby formula was found to contain melamine which was added into the raw milk hoping that the milk would appear to have more protein. The scandal aroused the government to not just strengthen inspections on raw milk, but to improve the quality of all dairy products in general.

"The Ministry of Health has started to draft a national standard of quality and safety for dairy products," said Song Kungang. The safety tests are set to be carried out by the second half of this year.

More than 70 famous dairy experts from all over the world attended the 2009 Hohhot Forum, which was hosted by the Global Dairy Farmers June 1 to 2.

(China.org.cn by Wu Huanshu, June 4, 2009)