1 Nov 2014

Fonterra says baby formula ban lifted

7:37 am on 1 November 2014

Fonterra says China has lifted a ban on the last two products that were embroiled in last year's contaminated infant formula scare.

A customer shops for a tin of Beingmate 'mommy' formula in Xuchang, China.

New Zealand producers were banned from exporting whey and base powder for infant formula to China in August 2013. Photo: AFP

The dairy giant said the two products - whey powder and base powder containing whey for infant formula - accounted for about 3 percent of its total exports to China, and it would be able to resume selling the ingredients to Chinese-based infant formula manufacturers.

The ban in China was imposed in August last year after the scare over whey powder potentially being contaminated with a bacteria that causes botulism.

The scare prompted product recalls and import bans in various markets.

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