BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Tuesday launched anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations against certain animal feed ingredients produced in the United States.

　　The move was initiated after Chinese producers claimed that such products were sold to China at prices "below normal value" and hurt the domestic industry, the MOC said on its website.

　　Chinese producers also argued that such products were subsidized by the U.S. government under as many as 42 subsidy programs, according to the MOC.

　　The investigations into the products, namely distiller's dried grains with or without solubles, should last no more than a year under normal conditions, or can be extended to one and a half years under special circumstances, according to the MOC.