The text of the document is available at the official legal data website. The document enters into force on July 4, 2022, and will be valid until March 1, 2028.
According to representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, the amendments were developed to reduce the extent of the burden on dairy producers.
The changes refer to the frequency of hygiene inspections of milk, intended for processing and retail sale.
Thus, manufacturers have to check products for texture, taste and smell, color, fat mass fraction, amount of protein, density and acidity not less than once a month. Under current rules, each batch is subject to examination.
Besides that, milk should be tested for the content of somatic cells, antibiotics, and the mass fraction of serum solids (an indicator of milk authenticity) at least once a month. Previously, these tests had to be run every 10 days.
In addition, manufacturers have to examine products for the content of veterinary drugs not less than once in six months and this is a new requirement.
Reminder: milk producers used to complain that the hygiene inspection rules cause significant expenses. For example, a test for milk texture, taste and smell, color, fat mass fraction, amount of protein, density, and acidity, run by an authorized laboratory costs 326 rubles. A test for the content of somatic cells, antibiotics, and the mass fraction of serum solids, run by an authorized laboratory costs about 11 – 12 thousand rubles.
Consequently, according to the Dairy Union’s calculations, such tests would cost a manufacturer about 396 thousand rubles a year.
The approved amendments will help reduce the expenses of dairy production through changing the frequency of examinations.
