Northern Ireland Milk a Greener Alternative
UK - Dairy UK’s new Northern Ireland Director, Dr Mike Johnston, said today he would make the high cost of environmental compliance for dairy companies one of the key priorities in his new role.
28 March 2008
2 minute read
Dr Johnston, who succeeds Paul Archer on 1 April, said: “Dairy UK and its members across Great Britain and Northern Ireland are strongly committed to further improvements in their environmental performance. But, as with many areas of public policy, the cost of compliance and the burden of red tape is a major concern. We need both clear guidelines and uniformity in their application across the UK. At the minute we have neither.”
* "Farmers and processors face a challenging commercial environment and burgeoning regulation, but opportunity also abounds." |
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Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK
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The threat of Bluetongue is also near the top of the Dairy UK agenda in Northern Ireland. Dr Johnston will keep up close contact with DARDNI officials to monitor developments and keep NI members informed.
He said: “We appreciate the co-operation of DARDNI in helping with export certification where necessary, and in providing confirmation for buyers that NI is still Bluetongue free. We are also in close contact with UFU, and fully support the industry wide initiatives to keep NI Bluetongue free.”
Dr Johnston is also Chief Executive of the Dairy Council NI – a role he will retain. He said: “Although both organisations will continue to operate separately, this joint servicing initiative represents a small, but important rationalisation within the NI dairy industry.
"The dairy industry is a significant part of the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland, and makes an important contribution both to the local economy, and to the well being of rural communities. I look forward to working with dairy processors and farmers to help improve revenue and competitiveness."
Jim Begg, Director General of Dairy UK said: “I’d like to extend our thanks to Paul, who has served as NI Director since Dairy UK was set up in 2004. He has been an enthusiastic and skilful advocate for the dairy industry.
“Mike takes over the reins in Northern Ireland at an exciting time for the dairy industry. Farmers and processors face a challenging commercial environment and burgeoning regulation, but opportunity also abounds. Manufacturers are efficiently producing an expanding range of innovative, healthy and above all, tasty, dairy products.
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