Legislation to standardize dairy products

The Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Industry Development Institute (EMDIDI) is concerned about lack of regulation with regard to milk and dairy products, so they are preparing a new legal frame work for the dairy sector. This will allow for fines or for jail time when people distribute, produce or sell below standard dairy products.
The legislation will enforce standards regarding: taste, health benefits, clean labels, healthier ingredients, eco-friendly packaging, functional benefits and innovative ingredients.
The framework is expected to be applied by next Ethiopian year. The goal is to enhance and promote sustainability of the dairy industry. Notably, it will also seek to promote consumption of safe and quality of milk by ensuring conformance by all players in the dairy sector.
Compared to the current working dairy market the draft framework tightens control of how milk-yielding animals are bred, how raw milk is purchased and the production and sales of dairy food. Those who violate safety standards or do not enforce quality control, will be prosecuted.
Ethiopia’s dairy industry, which is being challenged by low productivity per cow, inadequate extension, fluctuating milk production, low quality feeds, milk quality concerns, high cost of production, inefficiencies along the value chain and inadequate legal and regulatory frameworks has been growing in demand with the increase of the population.
Tadesse Guta director of Dairy at EMDIDI told Capital that new legal a framework will enhance order in the industry as well as inspire more growth.
“So far we don’t have a framework to lead the industry which is a big challenge for us. To get quality products and grow the sector regulation with teeth is needed so we are working toward this aim.”
“We have millions of cows but the average yield per day from them is not more than 1.2 litters and the absence of new grazing fields, unorganized feeding systems are hindering dairy so we need to work on this.”
Ethiopia holds a large potential for dairy development due to its large livestock population, which comprises an estimated 59.5 million cattle, 30.70 million sheep, and 30.20 million goats.
The country produces about 4 billion liters of milk per year. Per capita consumption is very low, estimated at about 20 liters, though rising consumption levels in Addis Ababa have brought it to about 40 liters.
The Food and Agriculture Organization recommends that the per capita consumption of milk be about 200 liters, meaning 22 billion liters of milk is required. At the current production rate, there’s an annual shortage of about 18 billion liters.