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  • Hygiene regulations for milk and milk product handlers

    Topics:
    • Food, 
    • Complying with hygiene regulations

    All milk businesses must comply with certain rules and regulations which govern the production of safe food. These regulations have their origins in European legislation and are designed to ensure consumers are protected by requiring food businesses adhere to them.

    Enforcement of milk hygiene regulations

    Within the UK, the Food Standards Agency is known as the Central Competent Authority for implementing the Food Hygiene Regulations. This involves making food businesses aware of their legal responsibilities, providing guidance on complying with the regulations and also implementing a system of official controls such as inspections, audits and testing.

    In Northern Ireland, DAERA Agri-food Inspection Branch (AfIB) carries out this work on behalf of the Food Standards Agency. Within AfIB, the Milk Inspectorate team carries out inspections and provides guidance on legislation relating to milk purchasing, haulage, raw milk supply, processing and distribution. They are also responsible for the enforcement of legislation on milk production holdings in Northern Ireland.

    As a food business it is important to keep in mind that the hygiene regulations are there to protect consumers, not to inconvenience food businesses. It is also worth remembering that the responsibility for meeting the legal requirements rests with the food business operator (the purchaser, haulier, processor and distributor – at each appropriate stage).

    Compliance with hygiene regulations

    At the beginning of 2006 a package of new consolidated EU food hygiene regulations came into force. They set out the responsibilities of food business operators, the required standards for premises, plant and product and the control systems to be applied to ensure compliance with this legislation. The regulations include:

    • Reg (EC) 852-2004 on hygiene of foodstuffs (as amended)
    • Reg (EC) 853-2004 laying down specific hygiene rules applicable to products of animal origin (as amended)

    The Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (as amended) provide for the execution and enforcement in Northern Ireland of the above Community regulations.

    As a food business it is important that you are familiar with the legislation (links above) and understand clearly what you are required to do in order to comply with it.

    Approval and registration

    EU Hygiene legislation requires all food businesses to be either approved or registered.

    For guidance on whether your business needs to be registered or approved please contact AfIB milk inspectors listed below.

    To apply for Registration please print form R006 or if making changes to an existing registered premises, please print form R083 complete the relevant sections and return to:

    Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    Agri-food Inspection Branch
    Clare House
    303 Airport Road West
    Belfast
    BT3 9ED

    To apply for approval please contact the Food Standards Agency at http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/sectorrules/milkandairy

    Agri-food Inspection Branch contacts

    Head of Milk Inspectorate

    Shirley Fulton
    Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
    Agri-food Inspection Branch
    Clare House
    303 Airport Road West
    Belfast
    BT3 9ED
    Tel: 028 8225 3471
    E-mail: Shirley.fulton@daera-ni.gov.uk

    Milk Inspectors

    Julie Glass
    Atek Building
    Edenaveys Industrial Estate
    Newry Road
    Armagh
    BT60 1NF
    Tel: 028 3752 9073
    E-mail: Julie.glass@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Niall Bell
    Academy House
    121A Broughshane Street
    Towns Parks
    Ballymena
    BT43 6HY
    Tel: 028 2566 2887
    E-mail: Niall.bell@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Hannah Hawkes
    Sperrin House
    Sedan Avenue
    Omagh
    BT79 7AQ
    Tel: 028 3752 9080
    E-mail: Hannah.hawkes@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Eamon O'Harte
    Inishkeen House
    Killyhevlin
    Enniskillen
    BT74 4EJ
    Tel: 028 6634 3100
    E-mail: Eamon.o'harte@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Gemma Whitehouse
    Atek Building
    Edenaveys Industrial Estate
    Newry Road
    Armagh
    BT60 1NF
    Tel: 028 3752 9041
    E-mail: Gemma.whitehouse@daera-ni.gov.uk
    Kenneth White
    Clare House
    303 Airport Road West
    Belfast
    BT3 9ED
    Tel: 028 9052 4136
    E-mail: Kenneth.white@daera-ni.gov.uk

    Related content

    • Hygiene regulations for egg packers
    • Smarter Rules for Safer Food Package
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