MORE than 10 jobs are set to become available at the multi-million dollar Blue Lake Dairy Group next month after the Tantanoola facility was granted a lucrative Chinese export licence.
The Chinese-owned milk processing plant will increase production for international markets immediately after receiving an infant formula export licence by the Chinese Government.
Only 13 Australian companies producing infant formula have been granted export licences by the Certification Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China, a regulatory body which supervises the importation of food products.
The Tantanoola plant is the first and only South Australian company to have gained approval.
Blue Lake Dairy Group assistant operations manager Sarah Barnett said the organisation was thrilled to receive the permit, with moves to increase the number of employees from 20 to more than 30 by February.
“It is a significant milestone and we are very excited to finally have it,” she said.
“Even though we have been waiting for a long time, we were confident we would get the licence.
“Now we can work towards reaching our full capacity and fulfil our customers’ need.
“We can now start producing three infant formula services for our Chinese customers.”
All companies operating in China must be certified by a CNCA approved certification body, with infant formula manufacturers required to have a post-production audit of their sites.
In an unprecedented move, the CNCA granted the licence without completing an on-site audit of the manufacturing facility.
Ms Barnett said Member for Barker Tony Pasin and the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department were instrumental in securing the licence.
“We missed out on the opportunity for a CNCA audit in May of this year,” she said.
“The department and Tony Pasin worked with the CNCA to help us with the licence.
“Based on our reputation and documentation we provided to the department, it was approved.”
Ms Barnett said the plant, which is capable of producing 55 cans per minute, would produce a minimum 3000 tonnes of product a year.
“According to the CNCA, infant formula manufacturers are only allowed to manufacture three brands,” she said.
“We already have two brands which are signed and there is a third in the process of securing a contract.
“We also have domestic requirements which will stabilise our investment and employment.
“We believe with the CNCA licence we will soon be able to reach our full capacity.”
The $15m milk processing plant began operations earlier this year and is the first development in a two-phase investment plan.
Stage one will enable the production of 20,000 tonnes of infant and adult formula using powdered milk.
Stage two is expected to involve a new $50m factory to convert milk into powder and create an additional 90 jobs.
Mr Pasin said he was pleased to work in tandem with the organisation, the CNCA and federal colleagues to secure the licence.
“Unlike some others who revel in the fanfare, we have been working slowly behind the scenes to ensure jobs at the Blue Lake Dairy Group,” he said.
“About six months ago, the CNCA indicated to us they did not wish to inspect the Blue Lake Dairy site.
“What that effectively meant was there was a likelihood the plant would have been forced to close.
“The Federal Government’s agriculture and trade department and I have been working fairly closely to ensure the Blue Lake Dairy could continue.
“I’m very pleased to have worked together to ensure Blue Lake Dairy can now be exporting to China and thereby secure jobs at the Snuggery plant.”
