Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said already, 3,500 milk producers have applied for the scheme. Milk purchasers have sent 1,020 applications to Bord Bia for auditing. Of these, almost 400 have become fully certified members of the scheme, while the remaining 620 are moving through the audit or review process ahead of the final certification decision. Approximately 11,000 information packs have issued to milk purchasers for use by milk suppliers when applying to join the scheme.

An initial panel of 36 people trained to conduct audits for the scheme are now being augmented by an additional 12 people who have been identified as suitable candidates for training. These additional auditors will be added to the panel in the coming months which should improve the situation to which the Deputy referred.

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