The European Commission has already banned the import of Chinese milk products after children were infected with melamine – which can cause kidney failure – in China this year.

Under a new ruling announced yesterday (Wednesday), European member states will be obliged to test all food and animal feed containing soya before distribution. Only products containing less than 2.5 milligrams of melamine per kilo will be allowed into the EU. Ammonium bicarbonate – known as baking powder – will also be tested since some samples have been found to contain melamine traces.

In 2007, the EU imported about 68 000 tonnes of various soya products costing 34 million euros. Potential sources include soya beans, soya bean flour, soya sauce and protein concentrates.