SAMR approval is slower than expected, probably due to site inspection which is not required previously for those have already approved.
Currently there are about 500 formulas (167 series) waiting for approval.
BAL probably has to wait for approval around next March after Chinese new year, imo.
"On October 15, 2018, the State Administration of Market Supervision and Administration approved the registration of 18 infant formula milk powder products from two enterprises. However, all the milk powder registered came from domestic factories, and there were no foreign factories. According to incomplete statistics, by the end of 2018, the State Administration of Market Supervision and Administration had announced 1195 formula registrations, with nearly 1700 formula milk products submitting application materials for formula registration. This means that 500 formula milk products are still under review, and how many are approved or unknown.
Some imported milk powder can not be registered because of the increasingly stringent registration system. Beijing Morning Post reporters learned that since October this year, the relevant departments of the State Administration of Market Supervision have gone to France and the Netherlands for on-site inspection of milk powder factories. Some milk powder brands have not passed the test of milk powder samples."
