The number of mothers who breast feed their babies in China is among the world's lowest, which means the demand for baby milk formula is high. Only about 28% of Chinese infants under 6 months are breast-fed exclusively, well below this year's global average of 40%.
China’s regulations on the marketing of breast-milk subsititutes ban the advertisment of products such as baby milk formula and feeding bottles designed to be used with babies under 6 months of age.
Companies that sell baby formula are also banned from selling baby formula in hospitals. Producers are required to highlight words that stress the importance of breast feeding on infant formula packaging.
Images of babies are also banned from use in the packaging of milk powder products.