The ban comes after the country’s food and drug watchdog destroyed 16 tonnes of imported Chinese baby formula and authorities urged people not use Chinese milk and dairy products because of the tainted milk scandal.

Myanmar’s military government found the nine brands to be “contaminated with melamine that is unfit for human consumption,” the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.

The ban on the dairy products — mostly milk powders — was imposed after the country’s health ministry and pharmaceutical departments tested 16 Chinese brands imported into Myanmar, the paper added.

Cheaper Chinese products are widely used in Myanmar, which faces economic sanctions from the United States and European Union.

Four Chinese children have died so far and 53,000 have been made ill after consuming milk-products tainted by melamine.

China is struggling to limit the damage to its food safety reputation as a growing number of countries decide to suspend imports of Chinese milk products or withdraw them from sale over the scandal.