Formula goes sour
OPINION: Media reports say global recalls tied to cereulide toxin contamination in milk-based nutrition brands could inflict combined financial losses exceeding $1 billion.
New Zealand infant formula exports to China have been given a boost with the launch last week of a new pilot project to test products here instead of there.
In a world-wide first for dairy products, Chinese Government-owned China Certification and Inspection Group (CCIC) has selected NuZtri to take part in the test trial.
NuZtri says the trial will allow its dairy products to be tested in New Zealand by an accredited laboratory so that they get automatic entry across the Chinese border without any further testing.
“This will allow shipments of NuZtri dairy products to China in the certain knowledge that the products will move quickly through the Chinese border,” the company says.
“All dairy exporters currently face substantial risks with testing at the Chinese border. Often the same tests carried out in China result in a different outcome from tests done in New Zealand laboratories. “
Over time the hope is that all New Zealand dairy companies meeting these requirements will be awarded this special privilege of testing products here.
Last week the agreement signing ceremony between Nuztri (Best Health Products Ltd) and CICC was held in Christchurch.
NuZtri says the New Zealand infant formula sector has suffered much in the last few years due to the Fonterra whey protein issue and the new regulations for entering the Chinese market.
“With only nine factories now having been approved to export infant formula to China, the production volume has dropped significantly. Meanwhile, Ireland has successfully boosted its share of the Chinese infant formula market to 9% from 0% in just a few years,” it says.
European dairy giant Arla Foods celebrated its 25th anniversary as a cross-border, farmer-owned co-operative with a solid half-year result.
The sale of Fonterra’s global consumer and related businesses is expected to be completed within two months.
Fonterra is boosting its butter production capacity to meet growing demand.
For the most part, dairy farmers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairawhiti and the Manawatu appear to have not been too badly affected by recent storms across the upper North Island.
South Island dairy production is up on last year despite an unusually wet, dull and stormy summer, says DairyNZ lower South Island regional manager Jared Stockman.
Following a side-by-side rolling into a gully, Safer Farms has issued a new Safety Alert.
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