European Infant Formula Industry Refutes Online Rumours of Supply Shortages 欧洲婴幼儿配方乳粉行业驳斥产品供应短缺的网络传言 Go back »

2020-04-22 | All chapters

Beijing, 22^nd April 2020 – The European infant formula industry today responded to online rumours that supplies have been disrupted by the COVID-19 outbreak, and that the supplies that are available may have been compromised. The European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, which represents a number of major infant formula producers, said that companies have taken exceptional measures to secure safe production and maintain consistent supplies.

Despite infant formula manufacturing already being a non-personnel-intensive, highly-automated industry, European companies have taken additional steps to reduce contamination risks during production, including equipping all staff with supplementary personal protective equipment and restricting onsite access only to those essential to the production process. With milk being delivered quickly from pasture to production facilities nearby, the additional, strengthened monitoring systems put in place have ensured that there has been little or no adverse impact on the production of infant formula.

European Union member-state governments and local industry have worked in synch to ensure that infant formula consumers across the world can continue to access to top quality, safe products. For example, as Ireland gears up for peak milk season, Conor O’Sullivan, China Manager of Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), confirmed that strict biosecurity measures are in place in all Irish factories, and that Ireland’s dairy farmers and milk processors are maintaining normal production, while adhering to all health and safety guidelines stipulated by the Irish Government.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted a number of global supply chains, many European infant formula producers have aligned their own practices with the ‘three guarantees’ campaign (pledging to maintain consistent price, quality and supply of products) initiated by the State Administration of Market Regulation (SAMR) at the beginning of the outbreak. They have also diversified delivery systems, collaborating with logistics providers, e-commerce platforms and maternity stores, and have even adopted new, dedicated channels, to guarantee that products are being received in time. This has been complemented by the support of customs authorities to accelerate clearance procedures.

“European food and beverage standards are among the most stringent in the world, and European infant formula producers have always taken an extremely vigilant approach to ensuring the safety of their products,” said Adam Dunnett, secretary general of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. “The additional safety measures they have taken, in addition to supply chain diversification, are ensuring that parents are still guaranteed a consistent, safe supply of these essential products during this extraordinary period.”

The statement by Dutch Embassy on infant formula supply to China echoed this press release. Read more here.

北京，2020年4月22日——近期，有网络传言表示，持续的新冠肺炎疫情已经对欧洲婴幼儿配方乳粉行业造成严重冲击。国内消费者即将面临进口婴幼儿配方乳粉产品供应短缺且产品质量安全难以保证的双重威胁。欧洲婴幼儿配方乳粉行业于今日对此作出回应。中国欧盟商会婴幼儿营养工作组表示，上述传言不符合事实。面对疫情，欧洲乳粉生产企业已经主动、积极地采取了相关措施，安全生产与稳定供应完全可以得到保障。

婴幼儿配方乳粉的生产是非人力密集型、高度自动化的，这已经为疫情下的安全生产奠定了有力基础。但为了最大限度消除生产过程中的污染风险，企业还在诸多生产环节强化了安全措施，比如为所有员工配备全套个人防护设备，仅允许参与生产的必要人员进入工厂等。在供应上，牧场与工厂间的紧密衔接可以保证牛奶的新鲜和质量，辅以企业严格的监测检控体系，婴幼儿配方乳粉的生产受到污染的机率微乎甚微。

同时，欧盟成员国政府也在与行业共同努力，确保世界各地的婴幼儿配方乳粉消费者能够继续获得高品质且安全的产品。例如，作为重要奶源地之一，欧盟成员国爱尔兰已经为即将到来的产奶高峰期做好了充足准备。爱尔兰食品局中国市场经理苏礼文（Conor O’Sullivan）表示，爱尔兰所有的生产工厂已经采取了严格的生物安全措施，当地的奶农与乳制品企业坚决遵守爱尔兰政府发布的健康安全指导规范，全力保障乳粉生产。

在供应上，欧洲婴幼儿配方乳粉企业在疫情爆发之初就积极加入了国家市场监督管理总局启动的“保价格、保质量、保供应”行动。企业还利用多通路运输体系，加强与物流伙伴、电商平台、实体母婴店的合作，并临时加开专门运输渠道，确保产品及时运达。中国政府有关部门对行业给予了有力地支持。例如，在各地海关部门的协助下，当前进口欧洲乳粉产品清关流程十分迅速，放行周期大大缩短。

 “欧洲的食品饮料标准是世界上最严格的标准之一，欧洲婴幼儿配方乳粉生产商对产品安全一直秉持着严谨的态度，”中国欧盟商会秘书长唐亚东先生表示，“除了完善多元化的供应链体系之外，他们还采取了额外安全措施，以确保父母们在这一特殊时期仍能获得持续、安全的必需品供应。”

荷兰使馆发布的关于婴幼儿配方乳粉供应的声明赞同了本篇新闻稿。查看更多。

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