Milk control

In March, the Russian government instructed Roskachestvo, Rospotrebnadzor and Rosselkhoznadzor to carry out mass inspection of dairy products. As it became known, in the near future, the results of the check will be available for public inspection. However, it will be from the side of the authorities that the consumer can estimate negatively.

Large-scale inspection of dairy products will allow developing an effective method of quality control, said earlier Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, in charge of the government of the agro-industrial complex. According to officials, inspections are related to the fact that studies have shown a high proportion of defective products, though there were no questions to its safety as a whole.

Meanwhile, it is worth reminding that in recent years, all possible agencies and third parties are engaged in inspections of dairy products. And if the Rospotrebnadzor declares an annual decrease in the share of falsification and low – quality products in the dairy category, the other Agency – the Rosselkhoznadzor - says the opposite and the growth of unsafe products. All this has a negative impact on demand in one way or another. However, inspections of finished products can often become a tool of black PR.

"A lot of people in different regions check our products, and then we receive letters inviting us to contact by phone for further comments and to discuss and agree on what and how it will be published commercially", gave an example the representative of a dairy plant from Saratov region in a dialogue with The DairyNews.

Manufacturers have different opinions on the activities of the ANO "Roskachestvo", but note that with systematic work organization could be a mechanism for the promotion of natural and high quality products. However, the bureaucracy has a great influence on its work, as a result of which, manufacturers often do not have the opportunity and time to defend themselves or clarify the situation.

"It is very easy to label the product with "black lists" and negative labels, the reputation gained over the years can suddenly affect the position of any regional plant", - said one of the market participants.

"We are not happy with the activity of Roskachestvo. No one checks goods from different manufacturers on the shelves: it is written "cheese", where there is no cheese, "butter" where there is no butter. Falsification still remains as it used to be. If the goods are of high quality, they will be chosen by consumers. I can't say that after checks done by Roskachestvo the demand is growing: consumers have long been familiar with our products and know all about their properties", - says the Director of one of the enterprises of Nizhny Novgorod region.

We will remind, at the beginning of the year several plants stated disagreement with the results of inspections of Roskachestvo. Despite the fact that in the comments to the negative results of the research it was noted that the reason for such results may be improper storage conditions on the shelves, the goods are entered in the "black list", and the consumer, and the media are often not interested in clarifications.

We will remind, in January, several companies expressed disagreement with the results of the inspections of kefir by Roskachestvo. Later it was declared that the organization will sue Stavropol dairy plants.

However, there are enterprises that are fully satisfied with the work of ANO.  

"We are satisfied with the inspections of Roskachestvo: they always thoroughly check our products. There are no complaints about the objectivity of inspections on our part. We are confident in our products and have the suitable quality sign. Checks are certainly necessary for the manufacturer, and the consumer with their help can be sure of what he is getting", - said in the comments Nadezhda Yakushenko, Deputy Director for quality of Limited partnership "Syr Starodubsky". 

"The activities of Roskachestvo and the Rospotrebnadzor are objective and carried out in the framework of the legislation. Inspection of products selected in retail chains is carried out in independent accredited laboratories. The manufacturer, whose products have been successfully tested and audited by specialists of Roskachestvo, has the opportunity to receive A Russian quality mark confirming the quality and safety of the product", said Natalia Kolchak, Head of the quality control service of LLC “Ostankinskiy dairy plant”.

The experts stressed that if the products selected by Roskachestvo within the framework of the research manufacturers’ products have not passed the test, the manufacturer can work out a plan for corrective measures, then initiate a re-selection by the organization and thereby exclude their products from the "black list".

Market participants in an interview with The DairyNews stressed that currently the market has a number of significant challenges for the solution of which Roskachestvo could join. Comment on inspections of dairy products from Roskoshestvo at the time of publication could not be obtained. It has to be reminded that today no Supervisory authority has the right to significantly fine manufacturers and sellers of the most problematic category – "cheese-like products", which are often pretended for cheese on store shelves. Meanwhile, the Ministry of agriculture is preparing amendments to the technical regulation 033 “On the safety of milk and dairy products”, which will prohibit the production and sale of the segment of "cheese" with a vegetable fat content from 50 to 100%.

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