Out of the eight Biostime infant formula series, four have been approved under China’s new national or Guobiao (GB) standards for infant formula effective from February 22, 2023, with the remaining series pending approval.
The four series approved are Biostime Pi-Star, Biostime Organic Milk (Healthy Times), Biostime Goat Milk (Cute Betty’s Care) and Biostime Alpha Star infant formula series. The former three series were approved in May, but the fourth series was approved in February.
Responding to queries from NutraIngredients-Asia, Akash Bedi, interim CEO and chief strategy and operations officer at H&H Group, said that the newly approved formulas contain LPN as of the key ingredients.
“Inspired by the breast milk research, LPN – which is a key breast milk protein proven to help babies’ immunity – is one of the key ingredients used in the new Biostime formulas,” he said.
Other key or novel ingredients used include milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), alpha-lactalbumin, OPO or sn2-palmitate, milk fat, prebiotics galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) and fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), probiotics Bifidobacterium BB-12, DHA, ARA, lutein, inositol, choline, and taurine.
Bedi said that the new GB standards would see the milk powder industry enter a new stage of high-quality development, with quality improvement at its core.
He added that the rigorous reformulating and approval process meant that companies that could gain approval would “not only be viewed by consumers as more qualitative than other brands, but also more trustworthy”.
Key priorities for Biostime include increasing scientific research investment and multi-dimensional product quality upgrades.
“We will continue to ensure Biostime sees more of our product range successfully pass the new national standards in China.
“Key priorities will be ensuring multi-dimensional quality upgrades with profound R&D advantages, increasing investment in scientific research, providing more excellent and high-quality professional nutrition for mothers and infants, and promoting the high-quality development of the industry,” he said.
Other recent approvals
New Zealand’s The a2 Milk Company also announced that its China label infant milk formula series Zhi Chu (至初) has been approved under the new GB standard.
It said that production is expected to commence later in June and product transitioning in the market to take place in the first half of 2024.
Synlait Milk – which is the holder of the registration – will be able to manufacture and export the products at its Dunsandel facility until September 2027.
“The approval provides a2MC with continued access to China’s substantial registered domestic infant milk formula market which remains the key focus of our refreshed growth strategy,” said managing director and CEO David Bortolussi.
In March, Danone China also launched Aptamil and Nutrilon goat milk that were approved under the new GB standards.
Both products are said to contain the A2 milk protein, as well as 12bn CFU of live probiotics, prebiotics, and lactoferrin.
According to China’s State Administration for Market Regulation search database, other products approved include Junlebao’s Tianshi and Lebo which were approved in February.