Dairy UK white paper released

Calling for a “strong and supportive partnership between the government and the dairy industry,” the British dairy organisation Dairy UK released its White Paper 2010, a report on the UK dairy industry, at a recent dinner in central London.
Overlooking the Houses of Parliament, the assembled were provided with copies. Mark Allen, the chairman of Dairy UK, notes, “Dairy foods are hugely popular and are important to the health of the nation. Dairy can make a major contribution to food security, not just in the UK, but internationally as well.”
The paper calls for several steps, including a clear and predictable policy environment that gives the industry the confidence to undertake the major and sustained investment required to preserve its competitiveness, recognition of the importance of dairy to the diet, economy and environment, and commitment to ensure that any regulatory intervention is evidence-based, proportionate and implemented in a way that allows the industry time to adapt,” among other conclusions.
“The UK is a good place to produce milk,” Allen points out. “We have 60 million consumers on our doorstep, and dairy companies here are some of the most innovative in the world.” The white paper shows that the UK dairy industry is in the “right place” with regard to animal welfare, competition and value for money prices, he adds.