Attempting to leave Hong Kong with more than 1.8 kg (4 lb) of baby milk powder is a felony. Fines and jail are possible penalties.
This law was implemented in 2013 to prevent baby formula shortages in Hong Kong. The city has a population of nearly 7 million people, and baby formula is in high demand.In recent years, Hong Kong has experienced several baby formula shortages.
There was a global scarcity of infant formula in 2008, and Hong Kong was particularly heavily afflicted. This created a clandestine market for baby formula, with parents willing to pay exorbitant sums for it.Another baby formula scarcity occurred in Hong Kong in 2012.
The cause this time was a change in Chinese government regulations governing the export of infant formula. This resulted in an increase in demand for baby formula in Hong Kong, and prices skyrocketed.The existing baby formula regulation is intended to prevent shortages and keep costs consistent.
Attempting to leave Hong Kong with more than 1.8 kg (4 lb) of baby milk powder is a felony, punishable by penalties and imprisonment.