Dairy giant Fonterra is applying for a suspension of the court action it is facing from French food company Danone over last year's botulism scare, a judge's minute says.
Danone, the parent company of infant formula manufacturer Nutricia, said in January it was launching proceedings in the High Court at Auckland and arbitration proceedings in Singapore "to bring all facts to light and to obtain compensation for the harm it has suffered'', over a whey protein concentrate recall by New Zealand's biggest company.
The Paris-based company put the cost of Fonterra's recall at 350 million Euro ($575.5million) when it announced its third-quarter results last year. Danone wants compensation from Fonterra for the losses it suffered from the botulism scare and the harm caused to its reputation.
"The total damages will be quantified at the time of the trial," a spokeswoman said when Danone announced the action earlier this year.
Fonterra said in January that it was "disappointed'' with the action and will "vigorously defend any proceedings''.