DAR ES SALAAM, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Tanzania's food and drugs watchdog said on Tuesday it had seized about 34 tonnes of milk powder from China and suspended Chinese dairy product imports in response to its tainted infant powder scandal.

Tanzania joins at least 10 other countries in Africa and Asia that have either ceased importing Chinese dairy products or are testing their safety. Contaminated powder has killed four children and made many thousands more ill.

"Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority is temporarily suspending with immediate effect the issuing of permits for importation and distribution of milk and products containing milk from China," a statement in state-run Daily News newspaper said.

The food authority ordered all businesses stocking Chinese dairy products to surrender it and is running searches to ascertain whether the milk had found its way into the country.

"The ongoing inspection up to Sept. 19 found and seized 1,629 bags (about 34 tonnes) of milk powder (not baby formula). The fate of the stocks is pending results of further investigation."

The powder in China was contaminated with melamine, a compound used for making plastics, and which can be used to cheat quality checks. (Reporting by George Obulutsa; editing by Ralph Boulton)

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