Valio infant formulas secure Chinese export permit

The permits will open up China’s growing infant formula market to Valio, allowing the Finnish company to export its powdered infant formula and ready-to-feed liquid infant formula to the country.

Valio has exported milk and whey powders for industrial use to China since 1991 and only recently began exporting lactose-free milk powders to the consumer markets. Last year, it also established a Chinese head office in Shanghai to reinforce its competitiveness in the country.

“We want to strengthen our position in China as a trusted supplier of high-quality industrial ingredients,” said Jussi Mattsson, Valio’s category SVP. “At the same time, we are building a consumer product market.”

The export permits were secured during the visit of Finnish permanent secretary Jaana Husu-Kallio to Beijing on 8 January, following long-time collaboration with Finnish authorities and inspections of Valio’s production plants by Chinese authorities.

“Acquiring export permits for our baby foods is a result of many years of work,” Mattsson continued. “Success in the approval process required seamless co-operation between various Valio functions and Finnish authorities. We want to thank Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Finland, Finnish Food Authority and the Embassy of Finland in Beijing.”