'I'd like to stress that China attaches great importance to food safety and the safety of our food exports to other countries,' foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters.

The EU decided on Wednesday to bar imports of Chinese food containing soya that is meant for infants or small children.

Imports of all other feed and food products containing soya from China would face testing and only products containing less that 2.5 milligrams of melamine per kilogramme would be allowed into the EU.

'We hope the issue will be solved through dialogue and consultation. I believe the two sides will have communications on this issue,' Mr Liu said.

Under the decisions, shipments of Chinese-made baking powder into the EU will also have to be tested after high levels of melamine were found.

Melamine is a chemical normally used to make plastics but it emerged in September that it was routinely mixed into Chinese dairy products to create the appearance of higher protein content.

The European Union in late September banned imports of Chinese milk-related products after tens of thousands of Chinese children fell ill from dairy products tainted by melamine.

China said on Monday that a total of 294,000 children had fallen ill, nearly six times more than previous government estimates.

It also said six deaths since September may have been caused by tainted dairy products. The confirmed death toll so far is three infants.

Chinese dairy products around the world have been recalled or banned.

However, no melamine-related deaths have been reported overseas.

Last year, the 27-nation European Union imported about 68,000 tonnes of Chinese soya products or products containing soya with a total value of about 34 million euros (S$65.7 million), according to the European Commission.

Melamine can cause kidney stones if taken in excessive levels.

The scare has since broadened to other products after it emerged that some Chinese eggs also had traces of melamine. -- AFP