Tehran, Oct 6 - Iran has banned imports of Chinese dairy products as the health scandal over toxic milk continues at home and abroad, the Kayhan newspaper said on Monday.
"Until subsequent notice, imports of ... food and drink products made in China, in which milk has been used as an ingredient, are banned," the daily quoted a Health Ministry statement as saying.
Kayhan also said the ministry ordered stores to remove goods containing Chinese dairy products, adding there were no health concerns and but the measure was taken to reassure consumers.
"Those shops that continue to sell Chinese diary products will be legally confronted," the statement said.
Thousands of children in China have fallen ill and four have died after drinking contaminated milk.
China's latest food safety problem, involving the addition of the industrial chemical melamine to milk to cheat in quality tests, has caused public outrage and put the spotlight back on deficiencies in industry oversight and weak regulatory bodies.
Many countries have banned Chinese dairy imports, or ordered goods to be taken off shelves and companies have been forced to recall products or reassure customers their goods are safe.
China says the latest chemical tests have come back clean.
Health Ministry officials in Tehran were not immediately available to comment.