Melbourne CBD chemist opens in early hours of morning for Chinese baby formula buyers

A MELBOURNE chemist has come under fire for allowing dozens of Chinese shoppers to stock up on deliveries of baby formula in the early hours of the morning, before tins even hit the shelves. WATCH THE VIDEO

A CHEMIST in Melbourne’s CBD has come under fire for allowing dozens of Chinese shoppers to stock up on deliveries of baby formula before tins even hit the shelves.

Hordes of desperate shoppers are lining up outside My Chemist, on the corner of Elizabeth St and Flinders Lane, in the dark up to three times a week to grab boxes of formula the moment doors open.

THE PEOPLE GETTING CHINA TO BUY OUR STUFF

The Herald Sun saw up to 20 customers queuing outside the shop with shopping trolleys from 7am on two separate occasions last week.

When staff opened the doors at 7.30am, the large group quickly grabbed boxes of formula, including the popular Aptamil and A2 brands, before it could be unpacked or placed on shelves.

Shoppers queue in the early hours of the morning for baby formula at My Chemist.

The buying frenzy inside the store.

Many covered their faces and tried to hide when the Herald Sun caught them in action last week.

Local residents say the frenzied trade had been going on for months but had “ramped up” in recent weeks.

Paul, who did not want to give his surname and lives nearby, said he saw the group lining up outside the chemist every Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning. He said he was “disgusted” by the practice.

“As a long-time local resident I am dismayed that businesses are allowing people without children to profiteer at the expense of Australian mothers that do (have children),” he said.

Tins of baby formula cost about $20 in Australia but can fetch more than double that in mainland China.

Signs in Mandarin informing buyers of the six-tin limit in My Chemist.

The practice of buying and sending formula to China has led to shortages across Australia in recent years.

Many Coles and Woolworths supermarkets have a two-tin limit and some shops lock it in cabinets.

The My Chemist manager confirmed there was a “six-tin-per-visit” limit, with signs in English and Chinese around the shop.

BUSTED: BABY FORMULA WAREHOUSES

‘JUST RIDICULOUS’: SHOPPERS OUT OF CONTROL

Another My Chemist about 200m away has a “four-tin-per-transaction” limit.

This shop, near Bourke St, also has a “pack-and-send” service, with tins of formula seen lined up on the counter.

The “daigou” trade — a network of Chinese shoppers who send local products to China — is worth an estimated $850 million, according to the newly launched Australia China Daigou Association.

My Chemist was approached for comment.

[e-mail]