asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among farmers of the present system for milk testing both for butter fat and quality; and the plans his Department has for the setting up of an independent milk testing facility.
Written Answers. - Milk Testing.
23.
The responsibility for the testing of milk for butter fat and quality rests with the co-operatives which, as the Deputy is aware, are owned and controlled by the milk producers themselves.
However, I am at present preparing legislative proposals which will make new provision for the sampling and testing procedures to be undertaken by the cooperatives. With this in mind I recently set up a technical working group representative of the various sides of the industry to make recommendations as to the procedures to be prescribed.