This follows the closure of Bowland Dairy Products in Lancashire and an on-going wrangle between the Food Standards Agency and the European Commission over antibiotic testing.

Some processors, it is understood, have already had to switch to incineration companies rather than moving milk that has failed required specifications to companies, like Bowland, which were able to further process the milk – with full FSA approval – into cheese curd.

A spokesman for Dairy UK said at present, processors appeared to have little option for the destruction of failed loads whereas, until the Bowland issue hit the news, they were able to recover some value from this milk.

The cost could ultimately pass back to producers, though he acknowledged most were insured against accidental antibiotic contamination of a bulk load.

Meanwhile, the first stage of legal action against the FSA has been set in motion by the Commission, which has now issued its official statement of complaint – to which the UK Government had five days to reply.

The Commission announced it was to initiate court proceedings against the UK Government for failing to take action against Bowland Dairy, which it claims was guilty of unlawful and unhygienic practices in breach of EU legislation.

Source: farmersguardian.com