Christchurch-based Synlait Milk announced earlier today it had been added the the Certification and Accreditation Administration of People's Republic of China (CNCA) List of Registered Dairy Manufacturers.
As of May 1 2014, under revised legislation, only infant formula products manufactured by firms that feature on the CNCA list are permitted to enter China.
The CNCA list of accredited New Zealand infant formula firms, updated yesterday, also includes Nutricia, Health Pak, GMP Dairy, New Milk, Dairy Goat Cooperative, the Sutton Group, Canpac International, and New Image International.
In a statement, Synlait Milk branded its addition to the CNCA list a "a major milestone for the business."
"Being able to manufacture and export high quality infant formula products to China will help Synlait Milk deliver on its value added strategy, and provides an important confidence boost for our China business where we see significant opportunity for future earnings," said John Penno, managing director, Synlait Milk.
a2 Platinum
Synlait Milk's addition to the CNCA List will likely be welcomed by the a2 Milk Company.
The Auckland-based firm applied for CNCA registration in association with Synlait Milk, its a2 Platinum infant formula processing partner since 2012, and New Milk, Synlait's interim contract manufacturer.
New Milk was added to the CNCA List of Registered Overseas Dairy Manufacturers in July 2014 - a result that enabled the flow of a2 Platinum into China after a break of more than two months.
The CNCA List was established in accordance with the issuance of Decree 145, otherwise known as Administrative Measures for Registration of Overseas Manufacturers, by the State General Administration of the People's Republic of China for Quality Supervision and Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ).
Under the revised regulations, foreign authorities, including the US Food ad Drug Administration (FDA) and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), are required to provide CNCA with a list of accredited manufacturers.
Synlait Milk applied for CNCA accreditation following the approval of its Risk Management Program by the MPI for its newly constructed dry blending and consumer plant in Canterbury.
The NZ$28.5m (US$22.1m, €17.5m) plant boasts a processing capacity of 30,000 tonnes per annum - the equivalent of 33m 900g cans.