Flying colours in Food and Veterinary Office audit for fast growing dairy industry
In the throes of preparing for a 50% expansion of milk throughput, and coping with a rush of milk in the first month in 30 years of freedom from quotas, the industry was selected last April for an audit by the EU’s Food and Veterinary Office (FVO).
The timing was unfortunate, within weeks of the end of quotas releasing a pent-up flood of extra milk for processing, more than in any other member state.
But everyone did very well, and the FVO auditors inspecting the official controls were able to confirm safe production of food of animal origin, in particular milk and milk products.
It’s a reassuring result for consumers as well as for our dairy industry.
From April 20 to April 30, three auditors from the FVO met representatives of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland; the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; two regional agriculture inspectorates and one regional veterinary inspectorate.
They visited seven milk processing establishments, two liquid milk suppliers, two milk purchasers, two dairy farms, and two dairy laboratories.
On both farms, animal treatment records were available to the auditors, and in line with the requirements.
Both holdings had been under TB restriction in 2014. Documents were available on both holdings showing dates and results of TB tests, the number of and identification numbers of reactor and/or inconclusive reactor animals, and dates when the animals were sent for slaughter.
Auditors established one farmer received official notification of suspension of the TB free status of the herd one day after the evaluation of skin tests, the other farmer received it one week later, because extra gamma interferon blood tests were sampled and tested.
They checked on-farm disposal of milk from TB reactor animals, and found it was not documented, but the milk was spread on land in both cases.
One farmer stated that the field was not used for grazing, where the milk was disposed. In the other case, the grazing was suspended on that particular field for six weeks after the disposal.
Milk purchasers were quizzed on positive antibiotic contamination cases, and auditors established they could trace back to the farms, which were suspended from milk supply until the farmers could provide raw milk samples negative for antibiotics, but remained under strict supervision for the following 30 days.
Milk purchasers were able to show the FVO auditors several examples when SCC and/or TBC exceeded limits, they issued warning letters, and after the third warning letter, collection of the milk from these farms was suspended, generally for one month, or when the geometric average returned to below the limit.
Milk purchasers were able to show that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was kept informed about such warnings and suspensions.
However, in one processing establishment visited, auditors found the geometric average for SCC of one supplier exceeded the limit over three consecutive months.
The supplier was informed but was not suspended.
After their detailed and rigorous audit, the FVO team concluded the Irish control system of the dairy sector is well organised, and documented procedures are in place to carry out official controls, and are implemented by the local inspectors.
Official controls are carried out frequently, risk based and well documented.
Deficiencies and shortcomings are well identified.
The follow-up is also documented.
The FVO team said communication and co-operation between and within the competent authorities had improved markedly since their previous audit in 2011.
The FVO’s job includes ensuring that EU legislation on food safety, animal health, animal welfare, and plant health is properly implemented and enforced, so EU citizens can enjoy safe foods.
The results from last April shows the Irish dairy industry complies fully, even when the pressure is on.
