asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if he will consider amending the Dairy Produce Act, 1924, as it places the dairy industry at a disadvantage vis-á-vis the food industry in relation to the use of additives and the extraction of solids from butter in order to increase its spreadability.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dairy Produce Act.
62.
The grounds for amending the Dairy Produce Act, 1924, as suggested are not strong enough at present to satisfy me that such amendment would have beneficial effects on the dairying industry. The position will, however, be kept under review.
Surely selling more milk would have an effect on the dairying industry? Does the Minister realise that the dairying industry is at a serious disadvantage vis-á-vis the food processing industry because the latter can use additives, colouring and so forth, to make the product more attractive? The dairying industry is completely hidebound by the Act.
I agree with the Deputy that the purpose of the legislation is to sell milk and milk products but I do not accept that the best way to do this would necessarily be by selling dairy products which contained additives or were processed in such manner as to change them radically from their original condition. If one produced a product that differed from butter as we know it, it does not necessarily follow that the sale of a product like that would improve the sales of milk generally. However, I agree with the Deputy that it is a matter worth examining and it is being examined.