Summary
China and New Zealand recently signed the 'Arrangement on Food Safety Cooperation for Infant Formula between the State Administration for Market Regulation of the People's Republic of China and the Ministry for Primary Industries of New Zealand', aiming to enhance communication and cooperation in infant formula registration, ensure the quality and safety of infant formula exported to China, facilitate bilateral trade, and deepen mutual cooperation. The arrangement will conduct technical discussions and exchange cooperation through existing forums such as the Joint Committee on Food Safety Cooperation, exploring further cooperation opportunities. Industry experts believe this cooperation will drive the healthy development of the infant formula industry in both countries.
Bai Wenxi, Vice Chairman of the China Enterprise Capital Union, noted that cooperation can strengthen exchanges in production, supervision, and testing, promote healthy industry development, and create a fairer and more transparent market environment. Independent dairy analyst Song Liang stated that cooperation will promote exploration and innovation in raw materials and nutrition for infant formula, as well as the development of safety testing technologies. China has strict regulations on infant formula, with a pass rate of over 99% in recent years.
The 'Measures for the Registration Management of Infant Formula Product Formulas', revised and released last year, further strengthened supervision. Bai Wenxi believes that New Zealand's production standards, quality control systems, and food safety regulations are worth learning from for China, while China's registration management measures can also provide reference for both sides. The two countries have a deep foundation in dairy trade cooperation.
China is New Zealand's largest trading partner, accounting for 30% of its goods and services exports; New Zealand is China's largest source of imported dairy products. In the first four months of 2024, China imported dairy products worth NZ$18.58 billion from New Zealand. In 2023, New Zealand's dairy exports were NZ$26.008 billion, with China accounting for 35%.
By product structure, from January to November 2023, New Zealand's market share in China for whole milk powder, cheese, and cream was 69.3%, 59.9%, and 87% respectively, but import volumes changed by -26.5%, 27.7%, and -11.3% respectively. In whey products and infant formula, the US and EU have advantages. Song Liang pointed out that China's demand structure for dairy raw materials is changing, increasing demand for butter, cheese, concentrated milk, whey powder, and infant formula raw materials, while reducing demand for whole milk powder.
New Zealand is adjusting its export structure to adapt to these changes, and strengthening cooperation on infant formula raw materials is a way to meet China's market demand and enhance China's voice. Bai Wenxi believes that this cooperation will help New Zealand grasp China's market demand, expand market share, and inject business opportunities and development potential into New Zealand's infant formula industry.
Commentary
The recently signed infant formula food safety cooperation arrangement between China and New Zealand has direct commercial implications for New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners, particularly those in the dairy sector. From an opportunity perspective, the cooperation aims to streamline infant formula registration processes and reduce trade barriers. For businesses already exporting or planning to export infant formula to China, this could lead to more efficient approval and regulatory coordination, shortening time-to-market and saving compliance costs.
Additionally, the emphasis on technical exchanges allows SMEs to align with the latest Chinese testing standards, enhancing product quality and safety image, thereby boosting consumer trust. However, risks must be considered. The Chinese infant formula market is already dominated by American and European brands, and New Zealand's market share in whey products and finished infant formula is not high.
While cooperation facilitates market access, competition remains fierce; SMEs lacking brand recognition and distribution channels may find it difficult to benefit directly. Furthermore, China's demand structure is shifting rapidly: whole milk powder imports fell (-26.5%), while cheese, concentrated milk, and butter grew strongly. New Zealand companies need to adjust product lines from bulk commodities to high-value-added infant formula ingredients (e.g., whey powder, lactoferrin), requiring technological upgrades and investment.
From another perspective, cooperation may exacerbate the Matthew effect in the industry. Large New Zealand dairy companies (like Fonterra) can leverage resource advantages to quickly utilise facilitation policies, while SMEs risk being marginalised. However, the information-sharing mechanisms in the cooperation may help SMEs better grasp Chinese regulatory dynamics, avoiding losses from standard changes.
For local SMEs, the following practical opportunities can be considered: first, join industry associations to participate in China-New Zealand technical seminars and learn registration details in advance; second, explore differentiated products such as organic or A2 protein infant formula ingredients to avoid mainstream competition; third, leverage New Zealand's 'pure' brand image, combined with official endorsements from the cooperation, to trial cross-border e-commerce channels on a small scale. Looking ahead, as cooperation deepens, China-New Zealand infant formula trade processes will become more standardised, but companies must proactively adapt to China's demand for high-value-added ingredients, otherwise they may miss the growth window.
Keywords: infant formula, food safety cooperation, China-New Zealand cooperation, registration management, market access, trade facilitation, high-value-added products, demand structure change, dairy import and export, supply chain adjustment
Summary in Chinese | 摘要
日前，中国与新西兰共同签署了《中华人民共和国国家市场监督管理总局与新西兰初级产业部关于婴幼儿配方乳粉食品安全合作安排》，旨在加强双方在婴配乳粉注册领域的沟通与合作，保障输华婴配乳粉质量安全，便利双边贸易，深化中新互利合作。该合作安排通过现有合作和食品安全联合委员会等论坛，开展技术讨论和交流合作，探索进一步合作机会。业内专家认为，此次合作将推动两国婴配乳粉产业健康发展。
中国企业资本联盟副理事长柏文喜指出，合作能加强生产、监管、检测交流，推动产业健康发展，并创造更公平透明的市场环境。独立乳业分析师宋亮表示，合作将促进婴幼儿配方乳粉在原料和营养领域的挖掘与创新，以及安全检测技术的研发。中国对婴配乳粉监管严格，近年来抽检合格率超99%。
去年修订发布的《婴幼儿配方乳粉产品配方注册管理办法》进一步加强了监管。柏文喜认为，新西兰的婴配乳粉生产标准、质量监控体系和食品安全法规值得中国学习，中国的注册管理办法也可为双方提供参考。中新两国在乳制品贸易合作基础深厚。
中国是新西兰最大贸易伙伴，占其货物和服务出口的30%；新西兰是中国进口乳制品第一大来源国。2024年前4个月，中国从新西兰进口乳制品18.58亿美元。2023年新西兰乳制品出口260.08亿新元，中国占35%。
从产品结构看，2023年1-11月，新西兰在中国大包粉、奶酪、奶油市场份额分别为69.3%、59.9%、87%，但进口量分别变动-26.5%、27.7%、-11.3%。在乳清类和婴配奶粉领域，美国、欧盟占优势。宋亮指出，中国乳品原料需求结构变化，增加黄油、奶酪、浓缩乳、乳清粉及婴配原料需求，减少大包粉需求。
新西兰调整出口结构以适应变化，加强婴配乳粉原料合作是适应中国市场需求，并提升中国话语权。柏文喜认为，此次合作有助于新西兰把握中国市场需求，扩大市场份额，为新西兰婴配乳粉产业注入商业机会与发展潜力。
Commentary in Chinese | 评论
本次中新签署的婴幼儿配方乳粉食品安全合作安排，对新西兰中小企业主（尤其是乳制品相关企业）具有直接商业意义。从机会角度看，该合作旨在简化婴配乳粉注册流程，降低贸易壁垒。对于已出口或计划出口婴配乳粉到中国的企业，合作可能带来更高效的审批和监管协调，缩短上市周期，节约合规成本。
同时，合作强调技术交流，中小企业可借机对接中国最新检测标准，提升产品质量和安全形象，增强消费者信任。然而，需警惕风险。中国婴配乳粉市场已由欧美品牌主导，新西兰在乳清类、婴配成品领域份额不高。
合作虽便利准入，但竞争激烈，中小企业若缺乏品牌认知和渠道，难以直接受益。另外，中国需求结构正快速变化：大包粉进口量下降（-26.5%），而奶酪、浓缩乳、黄油增长强劲。新西兰企业需调整产品线，从大宗原料转向高附加值婴配原料（如乳清粉、乳铁蛋白等），这要求技术升级和投资。
从另一视角，合作可能加剧行业马太效应。大型新西兰乳企（如恒天然）因资源充足，能更快利用便利化政策，中小企业则面临被边缘化的风险。但另一方面，合作中的信息共享机制，可能帮助中小企业更精准把握中国监管动态，避免因标准变化造成的损失。
对本地中小企业而言，可关注以下落地机会：一是联合行业组织，参与中新技术研讨会，提前了解注册细则；二是探索差异化产品，如有机、A2蛋白等细分婴配原料，避开主流竞争；三是利用新西兰“纯净”品牌形象，配合合作带来的官方背书，在跨境电商渠道尝试小批量试水。展望未来，随着合作深化，中新婴配乳粉贸易流程将更标准化，但企业需主动适应中国对高附加值原料的需求，否则可能错失增长窗口。
关键词: 婴幼儿配方乳粉, 食品安全合作, 中新合作, 注册管理, 市场准入, 贸易便利化, 高附加值产品, 需求结构变化, 乳制品进出口, 供应链调整
Source: NetEase
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