New Zealand-based infant-formula manufacturer Synlait has received approval from the Chinese regulator to ship products to the country from its facility in Auckland.

The General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC) has given the all-clear to Synlait’s blending and canning facility.

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With this factory registration granted, Synlait can now progress the brand registration processes for China. The Auckland plant was granted China general dairy registration approval in May 2018.

Synlait said in a statement that the GACC factory registration for infant formula included an in-depth assessment and required the company to prove it has a robust quality management system.

There was a three-day onsite audit conducted by the Ministry for Primary Industries on behalf of GACC, which includes a full traceability exercise from raw materials through to export, as well as an assessment of Synlait’s capability to meet China’s rigorous regulatory and quality requirements.

Synlait also received a second GACC registration linked to the advanced dairy liquid processing facility at its Dunsandel facility. Synlait is developing several options to target export sales of pasteurised and long-life dairy foods and suggested this registration is important for the potential export of cream-based products to China.

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Synlait CEO Leon Clement said: “We are navigating complex regulatory environments internationally and it is great to see this work recognised so Synlait can keep supporting its customers to grow. Today’s GACC approvals confirm we have the opportunity to continue the growth with customers looking to keep expanding in the China market.”

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