Relief is in sight for laid-off meat workers at Alliance's Pukeuri meat plant in North Otago.
The company is recalling the workers to the plant to begin processing for the chilled Christmas lamb trade to Europe and the United Kingdom.
Another North Otago processing plant is also waiting for China to put it back on the approved list.
Lean Meats, which has a processing plant in Oamaru, also lost its export accreditation after issues with labelling.
It had only gained accreditation to send lamb and beef to China in April.
For the 240 Pukeuri staff, who have not worked since early August when Alliance had its export authorisation for China cancelled, the resumption of work and pay should come as a welcome relief.
Alliance says it is bringing the plant back online as of 17 September as it gears up for the Christmas lamb trade to Europe.
The company's processing manager, Kerry Stevens, described the closing of the plant as unfortunate and says Alliance regrets the impact the closure has had on its employees.
He says Alliance has been working hard to ensure its workers could return to work at the earliest opportunity.
But he says the company still has not heard from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) about whether its certification to export to China has been reinstated.
Last week, MPI acting director general Scott Gallacher slammed Alliance's Pukeuri management as defective and said the company's business practices were unacceptable.
His comments came after Alliance sent meat to China from an unapproved plant and failed to label cartons of meat correctly.
