Media Updates, page-12242

Excerpt from Synlait CEO Grant Watson on SAMR process:

That SAMR registration is the highest priority in the business.

“It is so critically important for a2 and for the health and performance of the business.

“We have completed our part of the technical review.

“We are working with MPI [Ministry for Primary Industries] to get the audit date planned for.

“Roughly speaking, we would be looking to produce product by the middle of the year.”

In the interim, there was plenty of product cover in place for a2.

“So there is a clear plan in place — the two companies are closely lined up.”

Based on my understanding of the process, NZ's MPI conducts the audit on behalf of the Chinese. Further up in the article it mentions the process has been delayed by the Covid lockdowns in China. So it all sounds like delays on China's end, but whether or not the process is extended by the Chinese probably doesn't matter too much since A2 can continue selling stock manufactured before the cut off date in Feb 2023.