A stoush has erupted in the lucrative infant formula export industry after Chinese media outlets published articles stating the only "genuine" New Zealand-made formula brands were those belonging to members of a newly formed export association.
Six firms belonging to the New Zealand Infant Formula Exporters Association - which was formed late last year with plans to develop an accreditation process for "approved" Kiwi brands - attended the Beijing Mother and Baby Expo this month and hosted a media event during which members of the group gave a presentation to Chinese journalists.
A story subsequently published on the website of the English language Global Times, which cited China's 21st Century Business Herald as its source, said that out of 200 infant formula brands sold in China that claimed to be made in New Zealand, only 20 brands from six firms - all members of the association - were genuine.
Many Kiwi infant formula manufacturers, including Auckland's New Image, Canterbury dairy processor Synlait and Fonterra - which will begin selling its own brand of formula in China later this year - are not members of the group.
Guy Wills, general manager of New Image, which exports infant formula to China, said the company was dismayed that a small, private association thought it could go to China and speak for the entire industry. "The action of this association has caused confusion among the Chinese media and led to some authentic New Zealand brands being removed from the retail shelves [in China]," Wills said. "That is not only damaging to the non-association members, but also to New Zealand dairy's reputation."
