NPC Deputies Earmark Increased Dairy Consumption as Key National Target

The National People's Congress and the Chinese Political Consultative Conference (NPC&CPPCC) started on May 21 this year. During these meetings, NPC members raised their proposals to facilitate the dairy industry's development with the overriding goal of increasing dairy consumption within the country.

Li Cuizhi, director of the quality testing and control center of Yili Group, suggests that the government should implement a “Drinking Milk for Life Plan” as a significant part of China’s national strategy. She thinks four major factors influence the comparatively low level of per capita dairy consumption in China:

1. Promotional and educational campaigns designed to increase dairy consumption do not target groups such as the teenagers, pregnant women, the middle-aged, and lactose intolerant groups.

2. Dairy consumption varies drastically based on geographical location.

3. Domestic dairy enterprises still need government support.

4. The Chinese dairy industry lacks a developed nutrition standard system.

Li Cuizhi proposed that the government place more emphasis on the popularization of dairy consumption through educational campaigns and put forward the following suggestions ^[1]:

• NHC should coordinate with local government, industry association, and dairy enterprises, and take charge of the “Drinking Milk for Life Plan” and stipulate the detailed promotional measures.

• The government should increase the popularization of drinking milk at a national level.

• The government should support the development of domestic dairy enterprises to revitalize the domestic dairy industry.

• The “National School Milk" scheme should be further expanded to maximize coverage. Additionally, the government could provide subsidies to specific groups (such as pregnant women and the elderly) to encourage them to drink milk. For example, dairy products could be listed in the "National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL)," meaning the government would cover some of the costs.

• The authority should further optimize China’s nutrition and health standardization system.

Shi Yudong, nutrition and health manager from Mengniu Dairy, also stated that the promotion of dairy consumption in China was still insufficient. For instance, the “National School Milk” scheme only covers 12% of students (primary and secondary school students, pre-school children) nationwide. He suggested that the promotion of milk consumption should be supported by government legislation and backed by a “School Meals Nutritional Guidance” standard. ^[2].