The Association of Dairy Farmers of Peru (Agalep) warned that the industry would have threatened producers with not collecting fresh milk after the announcement of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) of a modification to the Milk Regulation that would require that evaporated milk only be produced with 100% of cow milk.
“Under the skirts of the National Society of Industries (SNI)the dairy industry (led by the monopoly company) threatens not to collect milk from small producers and that consumer prices will rise,” the union highlighted in a statement.
The words of the organization came as a response to the Dairy Committee of the SNI, which last Tuesday, March 15, stated that “altering, through a supreme decree without technical support, a key market such as food puts at risk not only the nutritional quality of the main dairy food in the country, but also the purchase of fresh milk from national farmers and consumers’ pockets, since poor regulation would mean an increase in costs and therefore in the prices paid by Peruvian households”.
“This is one more proof, gentlemen of the Government and Indecopi, of the absolute price control and selective purchase of milk that is not due to acts of free competition. We believe that this is on the verge of being illegal, as it would not be allowed anywhere in the world. The authorities should immediately intervene in the collection of evidence in this regard,” said Agalep.
Along these lines, the livestock association expressed its full support to Midagri and Minister Óscar Zea for the technical support of the modifications that benefit the 32 million consumers and 450,000 ranchers. “Not like now, the rules benefit only three companies,” he pointed out.
Change of the Codex alimentarius, Midagri proposal
The change that is technically supported by the Midagri indicated that the most important are the proteins, the same ones that do not suffer any variation with respect to the Peruvian Regulation (Codex) and that of the FDA. The difference, they pointed out, is in the fat content: although the current Peruvian regulation requires a higher level of fat, this has no nutritional effect, which reinforces the need to be corrected.
“The Codex does not allow the free use of powdered milk, it never has, that is a false argument used by the industry (by the SNI and the dairy industry and its supporters). The only ingredient is milk (fresh, cow, stable) which, by removing around 60% of the water, does meet the characteristics, it becomes evaporated milk”, specified the International Association of Consumers and Users of Insurance (Aincus) to The Republic.
The dairy industry affirms that the importation of the powder presentation is due to the crude oil deficit in Peru. However, Agalep guaranteed the supply in quality and quantity of the fresh product to the industry, summoning these companies to increase the meager 47% of milk collection.
“The modifications do not prohibit the use of powdered milk or limit its use, the modifications are of precision to the denomination of evaporated milk. If the industry wants to use powdered milk and other inputs, it is totally free to do so, but it cannot call this product ‘evaporated milk’but concentrated dairy product or another denomination according to the processing carried out, ”said the union.
In this sense, Agalep clarified that there are no reasons to raise the price to the consumer. “There will be no supply shortages,” they concluded.
Source: Larepublica
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