Authorities are to require that all baby formula on the Chinese mainland be sold in pharmacies or in shops that are qualified to sell medicines, a move aimed at improving consumer confidence in formula products while weeding out fake brands.

However, some experts say changing sales channels will do little to improve safety standards or allay consumer fears in the wake of the Fonterra milk powder scandal.

The China Association of International Trade under the Ministry of Commerce announced that domestic and foreign baby formula will be sold in 20 pharmacies in Beijing and Jiangsu province as of October, in a pilot program that will be extended to 20,000 pharmacies in 500 cities by 2015.