The producer of China's iconic White Rabbit milk candy has put on green label on the candy's packing to show the product is free of melamine, three weeks after a sales halt amid the wide-spread tainted milk scandal.

The candy taking on a new look began its return to market on Wednesday, as the products had passed Shanghai quality supervision administration tests, said general manager of the candy's producer Guangshengyuan, Wen Mao.

Wen said the melamine-free candy would be supplied first to the Shanghai market, where the company is located, and then to other parts of China and then foreign countries.

Guangshengyuan was hit hard in the tainted milk scandal and the staff were distressed that such a famous candy was also involved, he said.

Guangshengyuan would send inspectors to raw material suppliers to oversee quality and conduct tests against melamine on every batch of candies.

It was also considering set up its own base of milk powder, according to the general manager.

The Guanshengyuan company last month recalled all its exports, some of which tested positive for melamine, and announced the suspension of domestic sales on Sept. 26.

The company had produced 1,027 tons of White Rabbit candies in 89 batches since the sales suspension, all free of melamine as shown in testing results.

White Rabbit candy, first produced in 1959, is a household name in China, and is sold to more than 50 countries and regions.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2008)