New Zealand 'strongly regrets' milk scare: FM

The New Zealand government "strongly regrets" the contaminated milk products scandal and concerns it has caused Chinese consumers, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said in Beijing on Thursday.

During his three-day visit to China, McCully said, "Fonterra obviously needs to take steps of their own, because they need to rebuild consumer confidence in China."

He held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and met with State Councilor Yang Jiechi.

Largely viewed by the Chinese media as a trip to defuse the botulism milk scare, McCully said his visit was arranged months ago and that the government of New Zealand has the complete, absolute commitment to continue to grow the outstanding trade relationship with China, to meet the standards required for trade to continue.

He also discussed the contaminated milk products with senior Chinese officials, affirming his country's "unambiguous, underlined" commitment on food safety and human health issues.

"The government also takes a close interest in this procedure, because when Fonterra disappoints the customers, they also disappoint New Zealanders. They are important to a brand as an agricultural exporting nation," McCully said.

"Obviously the New Zealand government strongly regrets the disquiet that has been caused, the uncertainty that has been created around some of the food commodities that have been exported here," he said.

McCully called on people to wait until reports are completed before coming to any conclusions. Sometime in the coming days the Ministry for Primary Industries will write formally to China to outline precisely what occurred and provide a basis for being able to resume trade with confidence.

When asked whether he apologized to China during his meeting with Chinese officials, McCully said Fonterra has "appropriately" apologized and "that wasn't the New Zealand government's role."

"I am pleased that we are dealing with a recall and nothing more than that at this stage," he told reporters when asked whether Fonterra will compensate Chinese consumers.

Earlier this month, China banned some Fonterra products after the company revealed that 38 tonnes of whey protein used by other manufacturers, including makers of infant formula, was contaminated with a bacteria that can cause botulism.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) announced Thursday that it had revoked export certificates for four consignments of lactoferrin, made by Westland Milk Products, after they were found to have excessive levels of nitrate.

Fonterra confirmed Wednesday that a batch of milk powder exported to China in May also had excessive nitrate levels, a scandal after the botulism scare.

Fonterra's two batches of milk were banned by the Sri Lankan Health Ministry last week for containing toxic agricultural chemical dicyandiamide (DCD) but the company has rejected the charge. However, Fonterra agreed to help recall the products within 48 hours in an effort to reassure the public.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key told media that he would come to China later this year to apologize over the milk scare, which has damaged the "green, clean" reputation of New Zealand dairy products.