Scottish Government Calls For UK Dairy Action Plan
The Scottish Government has proposed a five-point action plan to tackle pricing issues affecting the UK dairy industry. The five-point plan includes:
* Calling for a summit with UK, Scottish and Welsh minister to discuss the current situation and establish a timetable for consulting on legislation
* Asking Defra Minister Jim Paice to appoint an independent objective facilitator to assist with the current negotiations between producers and processors in an effort to agree a voluntary code of practice
* Writing to retailers demanding clarity for consumers about how much producers receive for their milk
* Commissioning a long-term strategic review to establish where the dairy industry wants to be in 10 years and how to get there
* Ensuring the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS) have sufficient resources to accelerate their existing work on producer organisations and co-operatives.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead comments: “I am clear that every part of the supply chain has a part to play in finding a solution to the current problem, including retailers and supermarkets. We all drink milk and we need the dairy industry to continue and we must not risk letting it crumble. I know that consumers are right behind the milk industry.”
