On the back of a recent change in regulation, British firm Vitacare, soon to be renamed NANNYcare Ltd, is preparing to re-launch NANNYcare Goat Milk Nutrition, which has been available in the UK for more than 20-years, as NANNYcare Infant Formula.
In January 2014, the UK Department of Health (DOH) announced an amendment to the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) Regulations 2007 to allow “for the first time” the use of goat’s milk protein in the manufacture of infant and follow-on formula.
The amendment brought DOH regulations in line with the August 2013 European Commission (EC) Directive 2013/46/EU.
Prior to the rule change, only protein sourced from cow’s milk and soya was permitted for use in infant formula and follow-on formula in the UK.
Speaking with DairyReporter.com, Claire Magee, managing director of Vitacare said that the company was delighted to be moving into "new and exciting territory" after a “long and sometimes difficult process.”
“We are both pleased and proud of the fact that our persistence has been rewarded after two decades and finally now have NANNYcare take its rightful place in the market as a proper infant formula,” she said.
“Always competition”
For the time being, NANNYcare Infant Formula will continue to be available as NANNYcare Goat Milk Nutrition at outlets including British retail store Waitrose.
The full launch of NANNYcare Infant Formula is scheduled to take place in the next few weeks, and will be followed by the arrival to the market of NANNYcare Follow-on Formula in autumn 2014.
“We like to take the responsible approach so our immediate focus is more around informing healthcare professionals, but given that we have already established a foothold in the market over the last 20-years and that we are already seeing an increasing number of calls from interested parents, we are anticipating a significant increase in demand.”Since the change in UK legislation, consumer interest in NANNYcare has grown, said Magee.
The DOH revealed in January that at least one manufacturer intended to launch a goat's milk infant formula in the UK.
While it currently stands alone, Magee said that it will without doubt face competition in future.
“There is always competition in the marketplace, clearly this is a new development and we will no doubt see competition coming on in due course. We believe if we stick true to our core values of care and authenticity, we will succeed.”
“Exceptional quality standards”
The goat’s milk used to manufacturer NANNYcare is sourced and processed in New Zealand by the Dairy Goat Cooperative (DGC).
In January 2014, British Specialist Nutrition Association (BSNA) director general, Roger Clarke, questioned whether the 30,000-strong British goat milk industry could produce enough to “justify turning a dryer on.”
Magee said that that the company has no plans to begin sourcing or producing NANNYcare itself in the UK.
“With these exceptional quality standards, we are committed to using this particular goat milk base and manufacturer,” said Magee.
“Now they’re legal”
Speaking with DairyReporter.com last week, Clarke confirmed that the BSNA, which represents the interests of infant formula manufacturers including Danone, Nestlé, and Mead Johnson Nutrition, has welcomed its first goat’s milk infant formula manufacturer.
Vitacare, which officially became a BSNA member on 1 March 2014 but is yet to attend a meeting, had “reasons to join for regulatory reasons,” said Clarke.
“In the past, their products wouldn’t have been legal here. Now they’re legal.”
“So we’re very happy to accept them because the issues they are now up against are the same as someone like Danone,"he added.