The IFA Liquid Milk Chairman Teddy Cashman has called on the Department of Agriculture to review the remit of the National Milk Agency.
Cashman, who is a producer representative at the agency, called for the review recently, as he presented the IFA Liquid Milk Producers’ Petition to senior officials at the Department of Agriculture in charge of overseeing the agency.
He called on the Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of overseeing the National Milk Agency, to review and increase its statutory powers, especially when it comes to securing adequate compensation for liquid milk producers.
“The National Milk Agency must be legally mandated to interact with retailers and food services operators in the fulfilment of this mission,” he said.
The agency was established under the Milk (Regulation of Supply) Act, 1994 to ensure an adequate supply of liquid milk within the State all year round and is funded by levies from farmers.
In 2014 it collected €496,548 in levies from farmers, working with 14 processors and 1,867 registered milk supply contracts.
The number of registered milk supply contracts has fallen over the years, from 3,344 in 1995/1996 to 1,837.
While this represents a fall of over 40% in the number of registered producers with contracts, the agency has said that the total annual supplies of these producers has remained ‘remarkably stable’ at over 800m litres.
According to Muiris O Ceidigh, the Agency’s Chief Executive, the agency is involved in approving liquid milk contracts, compiling statistical data in the industry and the general regulation of the industry.
He said it also conducts inspections to ensure contracts are followed through on.
The Chief Executive said that the agency has five staff employed and according to the annual report, they were paid €321,536 in salaries and pensions in 2014.
Its board members are not paid, he said, but do receive expenses.
Cashman has said that the agency cut its levies about three years ago when it was running a surplus, but said that now, the levies just about cover the cost to run the agency.
“The agency needs to be maintained and its powers strengthened to ensure fair play for everyone. It provides a good forum for all the players [in the industry].”
“It ensures that the liquid milk volumes match the contracted volumes as well as gathering information around liquid milk.”