The State Council has decided to do away with the system of exempting certain food products from inspection. The government began the exemption system in 2000 to help companies that produced high-quality, globally competitive products avoid the hassle of facing repeated tests. Tests conducted on liquid milk over the past few days showed 24 of the 1,202 batches were contaminated, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) said in a report.

The AQSIQ, however, quoted scientists as saying the contamination level in liquid milk did not pose a big threat to people’s health. Even milk with the highest concentration of melamine is safe for a 60-kg or heavier adult if he or she drinks up to 2 liters a day.