Dairy UK Press Release Archive: January-June 2005

June

Dairy UK to Receive EU Funds to Promote School Milk
posted 27th June 2005

The European Union has joined forces with Dairy UK to promote milk consumption in primary schools this year.

Schools action packs, information on the nutritional benefits of milk and "Fitness Friday" packs will go to over 10,000 primary schools, along with thousands of copies of a "Teacher's Guide to Health and Fitness", which has been developed by teaching professionals specifically for our schools promotions.

more>>

Dairy Industry Launches Key Education Material
posted 24th June 2005

The dairy industry has today (Friday) announced that it has helped fill a gap in the provision of education material to primary schools with the publication of its "Teachers' Guide to Health-Related Fitness".

Addressing the need to provide primary school teachers with a comprehensive teaching pack tackling Physical Education, over a thousand copies of the comprehensive pack will be made available to primary schools up and down England and Wales over the next few weeks.

more>>

Destination Vancouver for Dairy UK/ MDC Scholarship Winner
posted 10th June 2005

Dairy UK and the Milk Development Council (MDC) have joined forces to offer a scholarship to enable a young person to attend the International Dairy Federation World Dairy Summit in Vancouver in September.

more>>

New Director General for the International Dairy Federation
posted 2nd June 2005

The International Dairy Federation announced today the appointment of Mr Christian Robert as its new Director General.

Mr Robert has more than 20 years’ experience of the international dairy industry and has held management positions at the highest level. He served 12 years in the senior management team of Nestle and most recently was Managing Director, Europe with the Bulmer’s Group.

more>>

maY

Dairy Industry Gears Up For New Legislation
posted 25th May 2005

Dairy UK, the organisation that represents the dairy industry, today (Tuesday) briefed delegates on significant changes to the hygiene regulations affecting the dairy sector, at the second in a series of road show seminars.

The massive support for the seminar demonstrated the importance the dairy sector places on ensuring the safety of its products. The sell-out seminar held at Arla Foods Ltd, Leeds, outlined new hygiene regulations that will come into force on 1 January 2006, which will ensure hygiene standards at every stage from farm to processing in order to provide safe dairy products for consumers.

more>>

From One Curry to Another as Dairy UK Announces New Chairman
posted 16th May 2005

Dairy UK, the organisation that represents the dairy industry, today (Monday) announced the appointment of the Right Honourable David Curry, MP, as its new chairman.

more>>

Dairy UK Response to DoH Consultation on Regulations for the Reform of the Welfare Foods Scheme
posted 6th May 2005

In its response to Department of Health consultation on draft regulations for the reform of the Welfare Foods Scheme, Dairy UK has emphasised the following points:roup being established to oversee the implementation of Healthy Start.

more>

APRIL

Dairy UK Sets Out UK Dairy Agenda
posted 29th April 2005

Dairy UK today (Friday April 29) published ‘Going Forward – the UK dairy agenda’, a comprehensive policy document that sets out the industry’s issues and objectives.

The document has been produced to present to the new UK government following the general election on May 5 and to the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales. A version of the document has also been produced for use with government departments in Northern Ireland.

more>>

Welfare Milk Deadlines Loom
posted 25th April 2005

The closing date for responses to the Department of Health’s Consultation on Draft Regulations for the implementation of Healthy Start is Tuesday 26th April. All submissions should be sent to: Anthea Fitzsimons, Maternal and Infant Nutrition, Department of Health - Room 704, Wellington House, 133-155 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG. Link to DoH website

If you have yet to complete your submission, help can be found here:

Welfare Milk – Key Points made at initial consultation

Welfare Milk Lobbying objectives

Please remember to send us a copy of your submission. It would also be helpful if you sent a copy to your MP, or prospective Parliamentary candidate, again copied to us. We have also asked that the Welfare Milk petitions be returned to our London office by the end of April. Copies are beginning to arrive, but given the timing of the General Election, we have decided to allow members a further week, with a view to delivering the signatures to Downing Street shortly after the new Government has been determined.

Dairy - Global Solutions to Global Challenges IDF President calls for worldwide initiative
posted 21st April 2005

The dairy industry must respond to the challenges presented by the liberalisation of trade and develop global solutions to the range of issues it faces, according to Jim Begg, President of the International Dairy Federation.

more>>

Dairy UK Outlines New Hygiene Regulations for Dairy Industry
posted 6th April 2005

Dairy UK, the organisation that represents the dairy industry, yesterday (Tuesday) outlined significant changes to the hygiene regulations affecting the dairy sector, which come into force on 1 January 2006.

more>>

march

Dairy UK Scotland Board 'A strong voice for industry interests'
posted 22nd March 2005

The Scottish board of Dairy UK has pledged to be a strong voice for the dairy industry’s interests following its inaugural meeting.

The board, which comprises producer-co-ops, processors and farming interests, elected as chairman Peter Nicholson, Milk Procurement Director of Robert Wiseman and Sons Ltd.

more>>

EU Must Fight for Dairy in WTO Talks
posted 21st March 2005

Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK said today (Monday) that the EU must secure the continuation of meaningful tariff protection for the dairy sector in the WTO negotiations in order to avoid a collapse in dairy prices. It also needs to obtain a prolonged phasing out period for export refunds.

more>>

Download WTO booklet in pdf format (322KB)

Dairy UK Supports Call to Cut Red Tape
posted 18th March 2005

Dairy UK, the organisation that represents the dairy industry, today (Friday) voiced its support for government initiatives to slash red tape. The ‘red tape revolution’ proposed by the Better Regulation Task Force and the results of the Hampton review, highlighted in this week’s Budget speech demonstrate the need for the administrative and regulatory burden to be cut back, if British businesses are to flourish in the 21st Century.

more>>

EU must fight for dairy in WTO Talks
posted 18th March 2005

Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK said today (Monday) that the EU must secure the continuation of meaningful tariff protection for the dairy sector in the WTO negotiations in order to avoid a collapse in dairy prices. It also needs to obtain a prolonged phasing out period for export refunds.

more>>

From one Curry to another as Dairy UK announces new chairman
posted 7th March 2005

Dairy UK, the organisation that represents the dairy industry, today (Monday) announced the appointment of the Right Honourable David Curry, MP, as its new chairman.

Mr Curry, a former Government minister and front bench spokesman with wide parliamentary experience in agricultural affairs, will succeed Sir Donald Curry who steps down as Dairy UK’s inaugural chairman in August.

more>>

Dairy UK Salt Strategy Accepted
posted 7th March 2005

Dairy UK announced today that its salt strategy for cheese has been accepted by Melanie Johnson, Minister for Public Health and Sir John Krebs, Chairman of the Food Standards Agency. They have welcomed the commitment to reduce the salt content of cheese by 5% this year, and a further 5% the following year, if possible.

more>>

Download the salt strategy (pdf, 211KB)

Download the update to the salt strategy (pdf, 157KB)

Dairy UK Warns Food Standards Agency Over Food Labelling for Dairy Products
posted 3rd March 2005

The dairy industry today (Tuesday) warned that a proposed ‘traffic lights’ system of food labelling could backfire and stigmatise healthy foods.

Dairy UK, urged the Food Standards agency to re-think one of the proposals for a nutrient profile system which categorises foods in terms of red, amber and green.

more>>

Download Dairy UK's response to the Consultation on Nutrient Profiling

Dairy UK warns Food Standards Agency over food labelling for dairy products
posted 1st March 2005

The dairy industry today (Tuesday) warned that a proposed ‘traffic lights’ system of food labelling could backfire and stigmatise healthy foods.

Dairy UK, urged the Food Standards Agency to re-think one of the proposals for a nutrient profile system which categorises foods in terms of red, amber and green.

more>>

february

New IDF Conference told that Research will unlock health benefits of dairy products
posted 23rd February 2005

Leading scientists predict that research into dairy products over the next few years will demonstrate increasingly accepted links between dairy products and health benefits.

more>>

Dairy Sector Works with Government to Reduce Carbon Emissions
posted 7th February 2005

The UK Dairy Sector has met its Climate Change Agreement (CCA) second milestone target by investing in energy saving technologies and implementing further efficiency measures.

The process of gathering the CCA energy and production data from dairy sector companies was a huge success, with no “non-respondents” (companies that fail to send their data in on time). The result is that no dairy companies in the UK will lose the CCA 80% rebate, worth £4.5 million per annum, over the next two years from not sending in data on time.

more>>

Dairy UK Asks FSA for a Better Explanation of New Hygiene Legislation
posted 7th February 2005

Dairy UK has responded to the FSA’s consultation on the new hygiene legislation by asking for the differences with existing legislation to be high-lighted.

Dairy UK’s detailed response can be downloaded

Cornwall and Devon Selected to Trial Healthy Start Proposals
posted 4th February 2005

The Government has announced that it will be running a six month “trial” (Phase 1) in Cornwall and Devon of its proposal to replace the current Welfare Milk token with a £2.80 Healthy Start voucher. The new voucher will be exchangeable for milk, fresh fruit and fresh vegetables.

In its consultation on the draft regulations for the implementation of Healthy Start published earlier this week the Department of Health (DoH) has not set a time limit on this introductory phase, although it has stated that it believes that a minimum of six months will be necessary to allow sufficient time “to evaluate the processes”. Neither has a date been set for the commencement of Phase 1. However, earlier comments from the DoH suggest a May/June target.

Download a copy of the consultation document

January

Dairy UK Opposes FISS Targets
posted 28th January 2005

This week Dairy UK responded to Defra’s draft Food Industry Sustainability Strategy (FISS).

Dairy UK has stressed that the dairy industry is committed to the principles in the Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food, and that as an industry we take pride in achieving the highest standards of corporate performance.

Dairy UK has expressed its concerns that the process of drawing up the FISS has not been sufficiently bottom up to engage the enthusiasm of our industry. The UK dairy industry has for many years been committed to the principles of sustainability by seeking to reduce the environmental impact of its operations, pursuing social progress and being a major contributor to the economy.

The draft FISS includes targets which would make the dairy industry uncompetitive. Dairy UK has rejected these explaining these do not appear to take into account the activities already in hand to meet existing objectives and legislative requirements. The imposition of new targets would, instead of making the industry sustainable, have exactly the opposite effect. Furthermore we are well aware, from the Climate Change Levy, of the very significant administrative burden which can result from target setting; a burden which falls on our member companies, on Dairy UK, and on Government since this requires the setting of baseline levels and interim targets, reporting procedures, and renegotiating of targets. Dairy UK is opposed to the need to set up special arrangements to monitor any of the targets.

Dairy UK is working with other trade associations on these issues and has asked Defra to pursue a dialogue with us to allow further progress in this area.

Dairy UK tells customers of industry's escalating cost burden
posted 27th January 2005

Dairy UK, the cross-industry body representing the dairy sector throughout the UK, today revealed it had written to the dairy industry's major customersto inform them of the escalating cost burden being encountered by dairy processors and producers.

In letters to customers, Sir Don Curry, Chairman of Dairy UK said: "singnificant cost pressures have recently affected all elements of the dairy supply chain.These cost increases represent a considerable challenge to the industry's profitability and consequently its longer term viability.

more>>

Colman Report Published
posted 27th January 2005

The report by Professor Colman on 'UK Milk Production Following the 2003 Reform', which was commissioned by the Dairy Supply Chain Forum Sub-Group, has now been issued.

The report examines the impact on price changes on the number and regional distribution of dairy farmers, and on overall milk production. The report shows that the industry can adapt to CAP reform but only if sharp price movements are avoided.

Download a full copy of the report (pdf, 305KB)

Dairy UK Response Statement to Colman Report

In response to the publication of the report by Professor Colman, Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK said: ‘This is an interesting extension of Professor Colman’s previous work and in many ways simply states the obvious: a sharp fall in price will have a sharp impact on production. This emphasises the importance of having as much stability as possible in dairy product markets and the European Commission will have an important role to play here’.

‘The reported efficiency gain on farms of around 3% per annum is impressive and indicates that we have the potential for an efficient and profitable industry operating close to our quota limit. For this to be delivered we need to maximise our appeal to our consumers, receive a breathing space to allow us to adapt to CAP reform and for the government to refrain from loading excessive cost on to the industry through regulation’.

‘We hope that all parties that will play a role in determining the industry’s future will work constructively and responsibly with us to ensure that the industry’s potential is fully realised’.

Download the press response statement (pdf, 82 KB)

Dairy UK Code of Practice on Yogurt
posted 17th January 2005

This revised Code of Practice explains what "bio" means on yogurt. The ode is endorsed by LACORS.

Download a copy (pdf, 100KB).

This can also be found on our Technical section under Resources.

Dairy UK Guidance on Antibiotic Failures
posted 17th January 2005

This provides guidance on tanker loads of milk which have failed an industry antibiotics screening test.

Download a copy (pdf, 69KB).

This can also be found on our Technical section under Resources.