The Ministry of Agriculture has cleared a kiwi company accused of selling infant milk formula in China without the proper certification.

MAF launched an inquiry into the safety of Heitiki Infant formula, which is produced by health-supplement maker New Image Ltd, after Associate Health Minister Tariana Turia called for an investigation last week.

MAF released a statement on Wednesday morning, clearing the distributor Kiaora New Zealand of any food safety concerns, but Compliance Director Geoff Allen says there are still concerns about the product’s labelling.

“Where we’re working now is the area where the company has been making some labelling claims and claims on the website.

“They relate to the product, where it was sold, who’s buying it and how wonderful it is, which we’re now looking at more closely.

“We have to make sure that they are truthful, and not misleading.”

MAF says if they find anything inaccurate or misleading in the labelling, it will be referred to the relevant authority.

The NZ Food and Grocery Council is praising the quick work of MAF, saying this example proves the current system is efficient.

FGC Chief Executive Katharine Rich says MAF worked very quickly on what turned out to be a difficult case.

“We do commend the Ministry of Agriculture, they acted very quickly.

“It shows that the New Zealand food safety system is very rigorous and of a high standard, so it’s great that concerns have been allayed so quickly.

“It’s just unusual that there would be so many unknowns in this case.”

Katharine Rich says all producers of infant formula should sign up to the Infant Nutrition Council, in order to avoid another similar scare.