Japanese makers of baby formula are considering exporting their products to the United States, where a shortage has caused U.S. President Joe Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to help increase supplies.
Japan’s agriculture ministry has contacted five baby formula manufacturers to see if it’s possible to export their products to the U.S. given that the criteria for the product is different in the two countries, a ministry official said Tuesday.
“We are currently being briefed by the ministry to see if it’s possible,” a Meiji Holdings staffer said. “We want to offer our full cooperation.”
Morinaga Milk Industry, another manufacturer, said it is currently looking into the issue internally to see if it’s possible.
Due to the shortage, Washington has arranged for military cargo planes to ship baby formula from Europe, with the first shipment having arrived Sunday. The second shipment is due to arrive later this week.
In February, major manufacturer Abbott recalled its products and closed its Michigan factory after two infants who had consumed formula produced there died from bacterial infections and several others became ill.
"We're sorry to every family we've let down since our voluntary recall exacerbated our nation’s baby formula shortage," Abbott CEO Robert Ford wrote in a Washington Post op-ed published Saturday.