Huge number of Chinese buyers made
difficult for NZ residents to get their hands on formula and some of the milk
products reached the Chinese market not in a safe condition.
Since Fonterra’s botulism issue appear and
debacle, the relationship of dairy product between China and New Zealand has
been paid more attention again. After the melamine has been found from Chinese
local dairy product 16 months ago, more Chinese who do not trust on Chinese
dairy any more and tend to buy foreign dairy product especially for baby milk.
Moreover, those parents who can afford more expensive price can take this
option. According to the huge population, Chinese parents still cannot get
enough formula overseas for their babies through normal channel. Therefore,
lots of Chinese who study or work in New Zealand become buyers for those
parents and they make profits through this for sure. Because of the huge number
of Chinese buyers, the run has made it difficult for some NZ residents to get
their hands on formula. Thousands of tins of baby milk powder are being bought
from New Zealand supermarket and sold to parents in China through online
shopping site with higher price.
“It’s pretty much a response to unfairness that we had with a lot of
people stockpiling baby formula and selling it overseas. We appreciate why
people are doing it but our supply of baby formula is for the domestic market.”
--- A spokeswoman for Progressive
Enterprises
Although NZFS senior programme manager NeilMcleod said all food products exported from New Zealand to China required a
certificate from the NZFS, here is still safety problems from online babyformula trade. Some horrible sellers sell fake Karicare baby milk powder to
Chinese parents, which result in serious health problems to their babies.
“We were aware that there were large numbers of Chinese people in
New Zealand buying milk powder to
send to friends and relatives in China, but the way your story goes it makes it
sound as if it’s a commercial deal, rather than a family deal.”
---Neil Mcleod.
The serious problem above has been found
from NZ dairy product trade in China. They should be solved as soon as possible
since it relates to human health. Although there is limit for formula purchase
per person in NZ local markets, some local shop let customers buy more formula
than its two-can limit for $3 extra a can. Obviously, the rules of formula
purchase have not been completed perfectly. The staff should strictly control
the purchase limit. And if possible, staff should check the baby’s birth
certificate if the purchase is a family deal. Also check the certificate from
the NZFS if it’s a commercial deal. On the other hand, Chinese government
should pay more attention on the online dairy trade. The sellers’ qualification
of selling and the certificate from NZFS should be strictly check. The biggest
Chinese online trading website TAOBAO could make connection with the karicare
company to help them check the quality of the formula that the sellers sell.
On the other hand, after the Sanlu
contaminated baby milk scandal, Chinese local dairy companies have made
development of their milk quality. Local Chinese dairy companies see rising revenues as well. However, it is important to persuade the customers to trust
their products again. The mainstream media such as TV news and newspaper could
do more publicity of local dairy products. I believe this won’t do any harm to
NZ dairy export, because high-income families would still prefer to purchase
foreign dairy products since they are more trustable.
Moreover, the good news is China’s Yashilicompany has been granted permission to build and run a $220 million infant
formula plant in Pokeno. At this stage, New Zealand’s good natural environment
would be a good condition to produce good quality dairy products. It may relieve
the limit of dairy supplement. Since the company will be build in New Zealand,
the quality of the dairy products would be more reliable for Chinese parents.
From my point of view, this is a win-win solution. It benefits both China and
New Zealand’s dairy trade. After Yashili’s success, I doubt if there is space
for more Chinese dairy company. It is believed that once one company makes this
happen, more and more company would like to do the same thing to make good
profits.
In order to make sure every babies get pure
and healthy formula, the chains that connects the dairy company and the
costumers has to be strictly checked. If one chain has not been completed
appropriate, it may occur bad result directly to the babies. Therefore, it is
important to make appropriate rules for the market and obey them. Hopefully in
the future the dairy trade between China and New Zealand will become more
successful. Everyone will get pure and healthy dairy products from both China
and New Zealand.
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