Vol. 491 No. 4
55 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the new procedures, if any, adopted in relation to the monitoring of butter fat over the past 12 months; if his Department has been assisted by other Departments in monitoring this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12414/98]
Under the provisions of the European Communities (Milk Quota) Regulations 1995 (S. I. No 266 of 1995) milk purchasers are required to determine the fat content of milk delivered by producers. The purchaser is required to notify each producer of the results of the fat tests and to retain and preserve the records of these tests.
The procedures for testing the butterfat content of milk at creameries/dairies are monitored by my Department as part of its inspection and control function. No other Department has been involved in this monitoring. The monitoring procedures are constantly kept under review. The most recent circular dealing with control procedures on the establishment of butterfat content of milk intake was issued to milk purchasers by my Department in August 1997.
