The Food Standards Agency has launched a farmer-facing campaign to ensure contaminated milk does not enter the supply chain.
Over the past few years, there had been several cases of contamination of milk with milk from TB reactor animals and veterinary medicine residues, the FSA in Northern Ireland said in a statement issued today.
These had resulted in the withdrawal of products from the market at a cost to the producer and the dairy supply chain.
In a bid to prevent such occurrences in future, the FSA has issued posters and stickers to every dairy farmer in Northern Ireland, reminding them to dispose of contaminated milk.
EU regulations outlined rules specifying the requirements for safe milk production, the FSA added in the statement.
“Milking must be carried out hygienically to prevent contaminants getting into the milk supply,” it said.
In a letter to farmers, the FSA warned that milk that must be excluded from entering farmers’ bulk tanks if it is milk from animals displaying udder wounds, or from those treated with veterinary medicines before the withdrawal time has ended.
It has also specifically warned farmers only to use milk from their own farm and not to mix it with milk from other farms.
“Milk from other sources must not be added into your own production. This is illegal, could potentially introduce contaminants and ultimately compromises the integrity of your milk supply and the reputation of the industry,” it said.
The latter piece of advice comes after officials in Northern Ireland and the Republic last month began investigating allegations of milk smuggling from the ROI to Northern Ireland following the arrest of a man in October in Newry, Co Armagh.
The FSA is advising that the campaign materials are displayed in prominent places in dairy premises.
No comments yet