Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the procedure for a milk producer who has extra milk quota that is required for use by a local cheese manufacturer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7629/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A producer may sell milk to a registered milk purchaser provided some or all of the quota has been assigned to that purchaser. If the cheese manufacturer is a registered milk purchaser, the producer can transfer unused quota to it from the existing milk purchaser, by submitting the appropriate notifications to both concerns and then commencing deliveries. Generally deliveries may not commence until the start of the second quarter after the quarter in which the notifications are sent. This notification process may be waived with my approval.

If the cheese manufacturer is not a registered cheese maker, no producer can sell milk directly to it. In this case the cheese manufacturer may wish to consider registering as a milk purchaser under the milk quota regulations and should contact my Department in this regard.