EU auditors find faults on NZ dairies
Shortcomings were found on all three farms visited by two auditors from the EU’s Health and Food Safety directorate, to evaluate sanitary measures required for dairy exports to the EU.
In one farm visited, auditors said clusters having fallen on the ground were not properly cleaned before being re-applied to the next udder.
On the same farm, wipes used for cleaning the udders of milking cows were specifically designed for dry cows, and the fridge where veterinary medicines were stored was unhygienic.
Veterinary medicines for dry cows were found which were not supported by a veterinary prescription.
In addition, registration of the use of veterinary medicines was partly missing, a breach of New Zealand’s code of practice for the design and operation of farm dairies.
In another farm, a veterinary product was found which had passed its expiry date by some months, another code breach.
In the third farm, one of the monthly tests carried out by the farmers showed that the temperature requirements for milk cooling had not been respected.
This had not been identified by the farm dairy assessor.
However, the buyer of the milk was able to demonstrate, based on temperatures registered at collection time, that the deficiency was a totally isolated case.
Finally, the audit team found that a veterinary product under veterinary prescription was used without a prescription having been issued, another code breach.
The prescription was issued immediately after the audit team left the farm.
The auditors concluded that on-farm controls and verification activities were in general carried out in a satisfactory manner.
However, such control activities overlooked deficiencies in New Zealand prescription rules and storage of veterinary medicines, hence limiting the ability of the system to identify non-compliances in these areas.
The audit took place in New Zealand in April 2016, but results were only recently published by the EU authorities.
Overall, the audit report concludes that the system in place for milk and dairy products is clearly designed and in general robust and fit for purpose.
Food business operators had the required risk management plans in place.
“Nevertheless, some weaknesses were identified at farm level, which require attention from the competent authority.
"A recommendation has been made to the competent authorities with a view to addressing the issues identified during this audit,” according to the audit report.
