Another Milk dossier which will garner attention this year, are proposals to possibly implement compulsory origin labeling on milk and milk products.

This is an area fraught with danger, especially for an exporting country like Ireland, with some co-ops having a cross border supply and for our industry in general as some countries with to renationalise milk. Something we think is unacceptable both from a single market perspective and a practical perspective.

ICOS has been following this dossier from the start and has made extensive contributions to the Commission at legislative workshop level to ensure that our industry is not saddled with unworkable regulatory burdens.

An initial consultant’s report containing recommendations on the matter is expected within the next month.

We are confident that our practical submissions regarding the total unworkability of compulsory national origin labeling proposals in dairy products.

We have no problem with voluntary country initiatives such as our own successful NDC label which we back in Ireland. But for a country that exports a level of almost 90% of its dairy product, such a compulsory proposal would be a majorly regressive step.