OUAGADOUGOU—Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries, on Wednesday announced it has banned all imports and sales of Chinese dairy products following the tainted milk scandal there.

In a statement, the West African nation's government said the decision was taken because of "the heath risk posed by these products to consumers" and warned that all infractions will penalized.

"It is a precautionary measure to safeguard the health of Burkinabe consumers," Mamadou Sanou, Minister of Commerce, told Agence France-Presse.

China has said 53,000 children have been sickened by milk contaminated with the industrial chemical melamine, which is normally used to make plastics.

It has led to four deaths so far and prompted a host of nations to ban, or at least scrutinize, Chinese dairy imports, tarnishing the reputation of the "Made in China" label.

Melamine, when added to milk, can make it appear richer in protein.

According to official figures Burkina Faso imported 10,301 tons of milk and dairy products from abroad in 2007 but it is not known how much of these imports where from China.

Burkina Faso became the fourth African country to take such measures after Burundi, Gabon and Tanzania.