The report also highlighted a "lack of alignment and confidence between Fonterra and the New Zealand government in the critical fortnight after the contamination concerns were advised to the government and made public."

Fonterra chairman John Wilson said the board was fully committed to implementing the recommendations made.

"Much of the recommended change is already under way, or has already been identified as needing to be changed," he said in the statement.

The board would also reconvene the independent inquiry committee in nine months and again in 18 months to assist in reviewing progress.

Chief executive Theo Spierings said the report provided Fonterra management with important in-depth observations and recommendations.

"We have learned lessons from what has been a difficult experience, subsequently found to be a false alarm. We understand the anxiety caused at the time to our customers, regulators, shareholders and other stakeholders, both in New Zealand and around the world, and especially parents concerned for the welfare of their children," Spierings said in a statement.

Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy issued a brief statement saying the government noted the release of the Fonterra inquiry into the WPC "incident".

"It is important to note that this is Fonterra's inquiry and the government has its own inquiries under way into the incident," Guy said.

The government's own Ministerial Inquiry was expected to deliver an interim report in mid-December, and the Ministry for Primary Industries' compliance investigation was expected to be concluded by the end of the year.