Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 8: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps she is taking to provide for independent milk testing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40469/06]

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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The Department already conducts regular checks on the results of butter fat testing carried out by milk processors. It also checks the calibration of instruments used in milk processing establishments for measuring fat and protein levels in milk collected from producers. The Department also monitors the instruments used in measuring somatic cell levels in milk delivered to processors.

In addition, the Department conducts random administrative checks to ensure the results of butter fat and protein tests are correctly transcribed into the calculation of the milk price paid to the producer. In accordance with the provisions of the partnership agreement, Towards 2016, the Department will extend its monitoring and cross checking of the milk testing regime to include all constituents used for payment purposes and, in consultation with the industry, will ensure transparency in the milk analysis regime.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for her reply but when will we see that happening? That is the key issue. Everyone in the House has met dairy farmers around the country who have raised serious concerns about protein in milk. The results do not seem to tally with what they should be. When will the Minister ensure we will have transparency concerning milk analysis? Many farmers believe such transparency is not currently in place. In specific circumstances where individual farmers have concerns, will the Department make its representatives available to carry out inspections? That would ensure a proper and accurate analysis is being made of the milk supplied. I have heard some stories which give rise to a significant number of questions in this respect. If we are talking about developing the industry and increasing the quality of supply to creameries, it is critically important to put in place a transparent system which everyone can stand over and which will reassure farmers as to the accuracy of its analysis.

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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As part of the partnership agreement, it has been agreed we will engage with stakeholders with a view to having the appropriate arrangements in place. It will only be a matter of months before they are in place. As regards proper and accurate analysis, most processors now have automated equipment for testing the fat and protein content of milk, as well as the somatic cell levels. Twice yearly, the Department's dairy produce inspectorate checks that this equipment is correctly calibrated. This is done by running special samples obtained from Teagasc at Moorpark, for which the relevant values are already known. These checks are carried out without notice.

As regards the other concerns raised by the Deputy, farmers will have to raise them directly with their co-ops with respect to the ongoing situation.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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That is the problem.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As a dairy farmer, it is hard at times to understand how, when checks are carried out on our farms by independent cow testers, there is no comparison between such results and those we receive from the milk tank through the creamery. The sooner this is done the better. May we have an assurance that it will be done within months rather than over a longer period?

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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Much of the testing is done by automated equipment but, in addition, standard Gerber procedures apply to butter fat testing. The SOPs provide that checks are also made on the accuracy of results from samples already tested by the automated equipment. At least twice a year, therefore, a minimum of ten samples are selected and tested. Some smaller establishments do not have automated equipment and they rely entirely on the Gerber method to determine fat content. In those cases, the inspectorate carries out its own Gerber test, on site, on samples already tested by management. Although the SOP is relatively new, the checking regime has been in operation for a considerable number of years. The validation testing of butter fat levels is already in place but we are talking about extending it to protein so we will have the same level of testing as for butter fat. I note the Deputies' concerns and we will ensure there will be sufficient safeguards concerning the independent validation process, which will be in place in a matter of months.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Is any comparative data available on tests currently carried out in the processing unit and those undertaken by the Department's independent monitoring unit? The Minister of State referred to ten samples being taken annually. More importantly, how do they compare and what discrepancies, if any, exist between them?

Mary Wallace (Meath, Fianna Fail)
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I do not have the comparative information to hand but I will be happy to obtain the data for the Deputy is she wishes me to provide her with some statistics in that respect.

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State.