James Leonard
Question:8 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the arrangements for the testing of milk under the new EU milk hygiene directive.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Milk Testing.
Under Directive 92/46/EEC the manager of an approved milk processing or treatment establishment is required to carry out, at a laboratory approved by my Department, testing on samples of milk and or milk based products to ensure compliance with the standards prescribed by the directive. The results of such tests must be recorded and kept available for inspection by authorised Department personnel.
Small producers fear it will not be possible to attain the standards laid down in the directive unless expensive refrigeration equipment is installed. It is important, therefore, that assistance be provided and small producers confident they will be able to continue in milk production.
I sympathise with the points made by the Deputy. It is the policy of the Government to assist in every way and discriminate in favour of small producers. Assistance will be provided. The Minister and I are fully committed to the task of raising standards and providing every assistance to small producers.
Given that various promises have been made relating to the purchase of milk quotas and the provision of subsidies for milking parlours, farmers would like to know when exactly the announcement will be made so that they can decide whether they should continue in milk production.
While I appreciate the Deputy's concerns, it is not possible to give a date. It is our intention to move the agenda forward as speedily as possible.
Have we been given a derogation in this area?