Stay In Prosecuting Milk Offenders

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30979, 8 February 1966, Page 1

Stay In Prosecuting Milk Offenders

The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) has disclosed that prosecutions for the sale of milk which does not meet the minimum standard under the Food and Drug Regulations have been suspended.

In a letter to the Christchurch Milk Board, discussed at a meeting of the board yesterday, Mr McKay said that it had become common knowledge that for a significant period of the year the bulk of the milk sold in Christchurch did not comply with the regulations.

His letter was in reply to one from the board urging the Government to enforce the regulations to ensure that producers supplied milk authorities with at least the minimum solids-fat content.

The Minister said that he had made some inquiries as Io what town milk producers in the Christchurch area could have done to improve

the solids content of their milk.

“But you will realise," he said, “that their activities, being a form of agricultural production, are more directly the concern of the Minister of Agriculture. “This makes it inappropriate for officers of the Department of Health to make direct investigations on the farms in relation to production and animal husbandry. “Such information as 1 have received does not disclose the nature and extent of attempts on the part of producers to effect improvements in the general composition of the milk supply to Christchurch, although I am reminded of improvements in hygienic production and in the elimination of disease risks. Improvement Made “In one herd, that associated with Sunnyside Hospital. Il le introduction of about 15 per cent Jersey cows led to a significant mid-winter improvement, but it is not known that there has been any corresponding alteration in the breed of other herds," the Minister said.

“Whatever the town milk suppliers have attempted to bring milk composition up to the minimum standards set out in the- Food and Drug Regulations has not generally been reflected in the recent

winter months in analyses of the bulk milk as distributed from the two milk treatment stations.

“The producers have made a number of representations to the Government recently through the Departments of Agriculture and Health. In the meantime, pending study of these statements prosecutions for the sale of milk which naturally (in the full sense of that word) does not meet the I minimum standard in the

regulations have been suspended.”

The Minister advised the board that he would not authorise the release of details of results of milk sampling under the foods and drags legislation. He said the view had been taken that it was not appropriate for such information to be passed to milk authorities if it contained particulars about the names of sellers, times and places of sale. The board expressed disappointment at the Minister’s letter, taking it to mean that the Department of Health would not accept responsibility of prosecuting producers of sub-standard milk. It decided to refer the leter to its emergency committee for a report.