Opened under the Food and Nutrition Group arm of the business, the new facility will expand the firm’s regulatory coverage across Asian food markets. Intertek Cantox has another office in Tokyo, Japan.
The primary purpose of the facility is to provide scientific and regulatory guidance to food and feed ingredient companies seeking to enter China with new products, according to Dr Andrea Wong, senior scientific and regulatory consultant, Food and Nutrition Group at Intertek Cantox.
“We will assist our clients in obtaining regulatory approval in China for new food additives and ingredients, dietary supplements, health claims and substances for use in animal feed,” Wong told FoodNavigator-Asia.
China demands
Dr Ashley Roberts, senior vice president, Food and Nutrition Group at Intertek Cantox said that the new office was a response to “tremendous demand from our clients for regulatory services in China.”
Intertek Cantox has numerous clients looking to enter the Chinese market and expand their presence further than North America and Europe, Roberts said.
“There is enormous growth potential for the food and nutrition sector, given the accelerated urbanisation, increased health awareness and rising demand for safe ingredients in China,” he added.
On-the-ground knowledge
Beijing was chosen as the location as this is where the Chinese authorities who govern the assessment of new food and feed ingredients are based, Wong noted.
“It is important to have on-the-ground support for our clients to engage in dialog with the authorities and facilitate on-going regulatory processes,” she added.
Intertek selected Sandy Lin to head up operations at the new office, due to her expertise in the field and strong connections with government, associations and industry in China’s food sector.
Having a well-connected person involved is essential, Wong said, as “developing and maintaining networking relationships with government authorities allows us to communicate effectively with regulatory officials.”
Initially the Intertek office will be focused on China but will eventually assist clients entering other neighbouring Asian markets.