NFU lobbying could secure one in ten year inspection on assured dairy farms

Over five years of relentless lobbying efforts by the NFU look set to culminate in a huge victory for dairy farmers as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) launches its consultation on proposals to reduce dairy hygiene inspections to one in ten years on assured dairy farms.

Under the proposed changes, which are out for consultation until March, official Animal Health Dairy Hygiene (AHDH) inspections on Red Tractor assured dairy farms will be reduced from once every two years to once in ten years; representing a 90 per cent overall reduction. Non-assured farms will be inspected once every two years.

NFU dairy board chairman Mansel Raymond said: At long last the FSA has offered a sensible proposal for reducing inspection burden on dairy farms. These ambitious proposals will make a huge difference to dairy farmers, who have long complained about the duplication, bureaucracy, cost and time associated with AHDH inspections.

The FSAs suggestion to reduce inspection burden by moving to a more risk based approach recognises the high standards of hygiene, welfare and quality being achieved on assured British dairy farms. It also fits in with the Governments better regulation agenda, and also takes cost out of the industry.

Im extremely pleased that the NFUs persistent and strong lobbying on our members behalf looks to have paid off. It may have been a long time coming, but victory is now in sight.

• The FSA consultation opened on Monday January 24 and can be found at www.food.gov.uk . The consultation period ends on March 14 2011.
• The new FSA proposals should lead to a 90 per cent reduction in official AHDH inspections on dairy farms.
• Over 95 per cent of English and Welsh dairy farms are members of Red Tractor Farm Assurance Dairy (previously Assured Dairy Farms)