Improvement of the quality of milk and other dairy products. (Project manager: Dairy Standard Agency)

Project 1: National dairy monitoring programme.

The purpose of the project is the objective testing of milk and other dairy products sold in the RSA to measure compliance with legal standards. This project has three sub-projects, namely:

Project 2: Facilitation of remedial action of statutory measures against regular offenders of the legal standards, in respect of milk and other dairy products.

The purposes of the project are:

• To assist the relevant regulatory bodies in the identification of regular offenders of the legal standards in respect of milk and dairy products.
• To initiate the implementation of remedial action plans by the respective regulating bodies with the view to limit the supply of sub-standard products to the market.
• To interact with the respective authorities on a continual basis as to establish ongoing remedial action plans.

Project 3: Food safety auditing of dairy processing plants in cooperation with local authorities.

The ultimate purpose of the project is to create a dispensation in terms of which local authorities insist that each plant or facility that processes milk which is sold in the RSA, should successfully undergo a food safety audit annually in order to limit the supply of substandard milk to the consumer. National Department of Health will be consulted in this regard to approve a policy that can be issued by the Department.

The immediate purpose of the project is that the DSA will perform audits on all processing plants supplying fresh milk in the jurisdiction of the local authorities in South Africa, within a twenty four (24) month period (March 2006 – March 2008). After the first round of audits, annual audits will be conducted on all Dairy processing facilities in RSA and the audits will be for the cost of the auditee. Letters will be sent to all processors to inform them of a possible audit in there area. Only those reacting positively will be visited when DSA staff members are present in that area.

Project 4: investigation regarding complaints received in respect of compliance with legal requirement in respect of dairy products other than milk sold in South Africa.

The purpose of the project is to a) investigate complaints received regarding compliance with the legal standard in respect of products other than milk; and b) to convey the outcome of investigations to relevant Government institutions, processors and complainants with a view to eliminate non- compliance with legal standards.

Project 5: DSA communication programme.

The purpose of this project is to communicate all relevant information pertaining to milk and dairy products to all role players in the country. Different forms of communication will be used media, brochures and workshops. DSA programme of food safety and quality improvement can only be effective if all role players are informed about the activities and responsibilities of DSA.

Project 6: Data base and Website

The purpose of the project is to use the Internet as a powerful instrument for communication with all role-players in the dairy industry that have access to the internet.

Project 7: Audit and advice services at the request of processors.

The purposes of this project are to:

• Conduct food safety audits in respect of processing facilities at the request of a processor.
• Give advice on dairy technical issues regarding requirements of legislation on new facilities and other food safety issues.
• Conduct food safety audits on suppliers of ingredients and packaging materials for the dairy industry at the request of processors.
• Conduct food safety audits in respect of dairy processing facilities at the request of retailers.
• Conduct food safety audits on milking sheds at the request of processors.

Project 8: Dairy Quality Club.

The purposes of the project are to:

• Allow DSA to obtain expert advise from input suppliers of quality products to the industry; and
• Provide DSA with income to finance non-statutory projects (members pay a monthly membership fee).

Project 9: Guideline documents.

The purpose of the project is the development (writing and compiling) of specialised documents for special areas that are identified as needs by DSA and industry. These documents will be used for the improvement of quality and upliftment of the industry and specifically for transformation. Documents will be distributed and communicated to relevant role players in project 5.3 (workshops).

Project 10: Advisory committees.

The purposes of the committee is to:

• do recommendations on all technical issues that Dairy Standard has to deal with;
• collect scientifically approved information an relevant issues;
• solve problems within the industry by using technically correct information.

Project 11:Amendment of legislation.

The purposes of the project are to:

• play a co-ordinating role regarding technical aspects of legal standards between the organised dairy industry and regulating authorities.
• communicate these amendments to the organised dairy industry.
• facilitate proposals of the organised dairy industry to the relevant authorities.

Project 12: Dairy Standard Agency certification body (DSA CB) accredited by SANAS.

The purposes of the project are to:

• get the DSA accredited as a certification body for Food Safety Management system audits. (Legal requirement R 918, PRP and HACCP).
• get registration of the Code of Practice as a standard for the Dairy industry.
• get accreditation of the DSA as a certification body with SANAS 2007/8.

Project 13: Promoting quality of dairy products in the informal dairy sector.

The purposes of the project are to:

• Determine the status of quality in the informal dairy sector.
• Use information (results) to role out a practical workable solution for addressing the quality issues identified in the monitoring programme.
• Provide information on legislation requirements. (project 5)
• Assist in ensuring quality standards are met in the supplying of milk to processors and consumers.
• Assist in Conformances with legal requirements in collaboration with project 9 (Guideline documents for remedial actions on non-conformances).
• Create a communication channel for information to the informal sector on quality improvement. (Project 5)
• Implement a food safety /dairy safety programme for upcoming farmers/processors

Promotion of the primary organoleptic, cytobacteriological and chemical quality of milk. (Project manager: Institute for Dairy Technology)

The purposes of the project are to:

• Disseminate information, training and technology transfer to dairy farmers in South Africa regarding the production of high quality milk.
• Explain the concept of milk quality and the safety of milk to dairy farmers.
• Impress the principles of improving milk quality upon dairy farmers.
• Promote the principle of higher profitability through high quality milk.
• Communicate the important role of the milk producer regarding milk quality.