CCM: Austrian infant formula producer Agrana has its registration in China halted 06-03-2016

On 16 May, China’s Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA) updated the list of registered Austrian infant formula exporters on its official website, in the process highlighting its suspension of Agrana Stärke GmbH (Agrana): against its Registration No. AT 30345 EG, the “Remark” column now shows “Suspension” clearly marked in red and large font size.


Source: Baidu


Since 1 May, 2014, a new regulation from the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) made CNCA registration mandatory for foreign-made infant formulas. In the first list unveiled in that month, there were 41 infant formula producers from 13 countries approved for export into China.


Agrana is a starch manufacturer which produces infant formula for 3rd party brandowners such as Holle: “We are a globally recognised and reliable contracted infant formula supplier,” it claims in its brochure, and it is known for its longstanding production of organic infant formula. It is not a largescale manufacturer but this development will undoubtedly cause it a significant problem.

 

So far the CNCA has not explained the suspension, but it must relate to the problems with 2 batches of Holle infant formulas found by the Heilongjiang Food and Drug Administration (HFDA) on 12 May.




Early in January 2015, CNCA suspended the registration for Spanish dairy producer CAPSA (Corporacion Alimentaria Penasanta S.A.) after tests in 2014 found that a UHT milk from the company contained excess acidity.


Its registration was suspended in accordance with the Article 14 in the Provisions on the Administration of Registration of Foreign Enterprises Producing Imported Food, and to date the company is still marked for “suspension”.


This indicates that once imported dairy products are found to be substandard and the corresponding producers are determined to be unable to control the risks, their registration suspension can last a long time, with restoration far from certain.


In January 2015, AQSIQ stated at a regular press conference that CNCA would take a dynamic approach to administration of registrants, by:


Carrying out irregular checks and making effectiveness evaluations of specific targets

Ensuring that the different government departments work together and are stricter on foreign enterprises, subjecting them to periodic inspections and potentially even cancelling their registrations if necessary


Just on 11 May, the State Council released the Notice about 2016 Key Work Arrangement for Food Safety, proposing universal checks on the quality and safety of imported infant formulas, this coming under the remit of AQSIQ and the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA).

 

The suspension of Agrana's registration within 4 days of the substandard test report should be a clear signal that China is stepping up its clampdown on perceived problem products.

 

                                           List of Austrian infant formula producers registered in China, 16 May


                                                     Source: Certification and Accreditation Administration


This article comes from Dairy Products China News 1605, CCM

 

 


About CCM:

CCM is the leading market intelligence provider for China’s agriculture, chemicals, food & ingredients and life science markets. Founded in 2001, CCM offers a range of data and content solutions, from price and trade data to industry newsletters and customized market research reports. Our clients include Monsanto, DuPont, Shell, Bayer, and Syngenta. CCM is a brand of Kcomber Inc.

 

For more information about CCM, please visit www.cnchemicals.com or get in touch with us directly by emailing econtact@cnchemicals.com or calling +86-20-37616606.

 

Tag: infant formula dairy


Subscribe to our Newsletter

 


Next Press