State representatives have announced that the twenty-two dairy producers involved in the melamine scandal will be paying one-time compensation packages to the families of the approximately 300,000 children affected.
“The enterprises offered to shoulder the compensation liability. By doing so, they hope to earn understanding and forgiveness of the families of the sickened children” the [Dairy Industry Association] said.
As of November, 861 babies still remain in hospital.
These dairy producers have also established a medical fund to assist the victims with future health problems. To date, Chinese courts have still not allowed private law suits to be filed against the milk producers.
In related news, Sanlu has been declared bankrupt, and the trials of six men accused of producing melamine began Friday. Sanlu’s Chairwoman Tian Wenhua’s trial will begin next week. For more information on the Sanlu Milk Scandal, see CDT’s past posts.