The Government of China plans to discontinue its maize stock-piling programme at the start of the new marketing season in October. Several years of Government purchases at high minimum support prices, under the stock-piling scheme, have pushed domestic prices of maize to levels well above those of the international market. This has triggered large volumes of relatively cheaper imports, while large Government stocks have accumulated. The Government intends to replace the current stock-piling system with subsidies to farmers in case of a dip in prices during harvest time, and with measures to encourage companies to buy from farmers. The change in policy aims to narrow the gap between domestic and international prices, allowing market forces to set domestic prices, and, in general, to promote market efficiency.