To produce liquid milk in the country: a plan on sanitary standard was being compiled

Recently the NHK News On-line reported the following:

液体ミルク 国内で製造を 衛生基準案まとまる

3月13日 8時18分

粉ミルクのようにお湯に溶かす手間がかからない赤ちゃん用の液体ミルクについて厚生労働省は国内での製造や販売を促すため、初めての衛生基準の案をまとめました。これを受けて国内の乳業メーカー各社は商品化に向けた研究開発を本格化させる方針です。

厚生労働省は赤ちゃん用の液体ミルクについて国内での製造や販売を促していこうと、初めてメーカー向けの衛生基準の案をまとめ、１２日、専門家会議で示しました。厚生労働省は早ければことし夏ごろに省令を改正する見通しで、これを受けて国内の乳業メーカー各社では液体ミルクの商品化に向けた研究開発を本格化する方針です。

しかし、液体ミルクは、粉ミルクと比べて時間の経過とともに栄養成分が失われやすいため、商品化に向けては長期保存をできるようにする技術開発が課題となります。また、製造方法も粉ミルクとは異なるため、新たな生産ラインも必要で、その分、価格が高くなることも見込まれ、いかにコストダウンするかも課題となります。

こうしたことからメーカー最大手の「明治」では、実際の商品化までには数年はかかると見込んでいます。

「明治」の栄養営業本部、大野竜之介グループ長は、「社会環境の変化により、液体ミルクのニーズは感じている。法整備に合わせて、商品化を前向きに検討していきたい」と話しています。

My translation

Regarding the sales of liquid milk for babies that did not take the time and effort to dissolve in hot water like powdered milk, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare suggested its production in the country and for the first time a plan on sanitation guidelines was complied. Individual domestic dairy business manufacturing company had received a copy and their policy to carry out research and development to commercialize it was in full swing.

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in suggesting the production and sales of liquid milk for babies in the country for the first time compiled a plan of sanitation guidelines for manufacturers and it was shown in an ad hoc meeting on the 12th. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare had estimated that at the earliest by around the summer of this year, the ministerial ordinance would be revised. When this was accepted, for each domestic dairy business manufacturing company, the policy on research and development for the commercialization of liquid milk would formally get into full swing.

But because compared with powdered milk, a nutrient composition in liquid milk tend to be lost easier as time passed, the technical development to make sure that it could be stored for long periods of time would be a problem for commercialization. A new product line would also be necessary because liquid milk production technique would be different from powdered milk. That being the case, it was expected that they would become expensive and how to cut cost would be a problem.

"Meiji" as the largest manufacturing company expected that it would take several years to actually commercialize such a thing.

Ryunosuke Ono the group chief of the Nutritional Sales Department of "Meiji" said that "due to changes in social environment the needs for liquid milk are felt. I would like to consider pushing forward commercialization according to the development of legislations."

   It seems that there are lots of hurdles to overcome before liquid milk could be ready for the market.