WELLINGTON - NEW Zealand diplomats in Beijing knew in mid-August about the contaminated milk scandal in China, but lacked sufficient information to make an official report, the foreign ministry said on Saturday.
New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra has been under fire for not acting immediately when it knew its Chinese joint venture company Sanlu had sold milk powder that poisoned babies, killing four children and making thousands sick.
The foreign ministry said Fonterra gave an informal indication to a New Zealand embassy official on August 14 about reports of a small number of sick children, and that Sanlu appeared to have been receiving contaminated milk.
Five days later, Fonterra sought advice from the embassy about how the Chinese government would respond to notification of a local health issue.
The embassy advised that the Chinese central government would normally be informed by local authorities.
Fonterra then urged local authorities to order a full product recall and the embassy informed the ministry of foreign affairs and trade in Wellington, the ministry said.
The ambassador told the ministry that Fonterra appeared to have a sensitive problem, and the embassy would report formally when it was confident about the information it was receiving.
A formal report was finalised on September 5 and at a special meeting of ministers on September 8 'instructions were given to the embassy in Beijing to contact relevant central government agencies in China to convey the views and concerns of the New Zealand government'.
A full recall of the contaminated milk powder was ordered on September 11.
Fonterra's chief executive Andrew Ferrier has repeatedly said that the company tried to 'do the right thing' in China by working within the Chinese system once Fonterra directors were alerted to the poisoned milk on August 2. -- AFP