Australia and China tension is really nothing compared with...

Australia and China tension is really nothing compared with South Korea and America.
Australia still got additional two CNCA licences for infant formula manufacturing just eight months ago.
Australia has total 15 CNCA licensed infant formula manufacturers. That was the highest same as New Zealand until April, New Zealand received another licence. (Australia & New Zealand accounting 40% of the total non-Chinese CNCA licensed infant formula manufacturers).

Based on the historical  CFDA/SAMR approval records, there’s no indication of national political tensions influencing the decisions:

- South Korea & China tension due to military system THAAD, CFDA still issued CFDA approval to South Korean infant formula;

- Worse tension between America & China.

On 26 June 2018, SAMR issued CFDA/SAMR approval to American Abbott premature infants/low birth weight infant formula.
  On 16 August 2018, SAMR issued SAMR approval to a Americans Mead Johnson premature infants/low birth weight infant formula.

also, the source stated that “State Administration of Market Regulation speeds up formula approval”
2018-08-16 18:06:00 source: Original Blue Whale Production



CFDA approvals for infant formula were very fast, every week/fortnight before merged to SAMR.

There was 3.5 months between No.42 and No.43 batch approvals, then SAMR released No.44 batch approvals in about 2 months. The slowdown was mainly due to China department restructure of merging CFDA with other departments into one new department: SAMR.


No.1 batch of the CFDA approval released on 3 August 2017,
No.2 batch of the CFDA approval released on 8 August 2017,
No.3 batch of the CFDA approval released on 11 August 2017,
......
No.41 batch CDFA approvals related on 12 February 2018,
No.42 batch CFDA approvals released on 23 February 2018,

SAMR merged CFDA, started 10 April 2018.

No.43 batch CFDA/SAMR approval released on 5 June 2018,
http://samr.saic.gov.cn/xw/yw/zj/201806/P020180605337311151998.xlsx
No.44 batch CFDA/SAMR approval released on 14 August 2018 (approved date 10 August 2018)
http://www.gov.cn/xinwen/2018-08/14/5313722/files/e94b5df2b43a4a36a35fd031e3c6d3c7.xls

So far approved 1,177 formulas (each series has 3 formulas or steps).


There are only three brands being rejected because their nominated manufacturer’s CNCA licence was suspended due to salmonella infection accident.
there’s no other rejections so far.

BAL’s Camperdown Powder CNCA licensed infant formula facility received CFDA approval for Mengniu’s goat infant formula on 29 December 2017.







Mr Cohen added he does expect to gain the certification (CFDA/SAMR) this calender year.

“We of course monitor what's going on our progress versus others in the queue," he said. "It's got nothing to do with Bellamy's - it's not like other foreign brands are getting stamped and we are getting held back. We have weekly correspondence between people in China and advisers in China and we stay on top of the process. We know our technical application is good and the process is there to protect the Chinese consumers. They have a lot of brands and we are one of them waiting in line."

These are quoted from yesterday’s AFR’s article,
https://www.copyright link/business...stralia-swings-back-to-profit-20180828-h14njx

For CFDA/SAMR infant formula registration process, Once passed “Technical evaluation”, just waiting for final approval as indicated by past CFDA approvals.
So I expect final CFDA/SAMR approval for BAL could be coming at any time.

Always do your own research and GLTAH.