Dairy

Overview

As of February 2008, NSW had a total of 2346 dairy licences for operations from farm gate to the back door of the retail store. This includes 915 dairy farms producing 130 million litres of milk each year as well as over 100 dairy factories and 980 milk vendors ie dairy product delivery vehicles.

The NSW dairy industry contributes 31% of all packaged milk sales and is also a contributor in the $2 billion Australian dairy export market. (Source: Dairy Australia)

Regulations

General

The NSW dairy industry is regulated by the Food Act 2003 (NSW) and the Food Regulation 2010.  

All dairy product factories, vehicle vendors, dairy produce stores, milk stores, milk collectors and dairy farmers are required to hold an Authority licence to operate. All other NSW food businesses are required to notify the NSW Food Authority of their business.

The Food Act brings into force the Food Standards Code and dairy businesses must comply with relevant parts.

The Food Regulation brings into force extra requirements for specific dairy businesses including those below.

Requirements & guides for specific business types

• Australian Manual for Control of Listeria in the Dairy Industry (pdf, 133 KB)
• Australian Manual for Control of Salmonella in the Dairy Industry (pdf, 133 KB)
• Code of Practice for Dairy Buildings (pdf, 70 KB)
• Code of Practice for Collection of Milk from Dairy Farms (pdf, 215 KB)
• Export Control (Milk & Milk Products) Orders 2005
• Food Safety Program template a template which can be customised to each dairy business (MS WORD^TM 597 KB)
• Food Standards Code - User Guides from Food Standards Australia New Zealand
• Notification of residue detection form RES001 Milk processors are legally obliged to advise the Authority when they detect residues in milk by completing a Notification of residue form (MS WORD^TM, 377 KB)
• NSW Food Safety Schemes Manual (pdf, 358 KB)

Licence application forms

• for food premises to produce/process/store dairy products (LIC001) pdf, 124 KB
• for food transport vehicles (LIC007) pdf, 135 KB

General circulars

• 03/2011 Antibiotic notification and milk cooling temperatures
  • 03/2011 Attachment: Notification of residue detection form RES001
• 07/2008 Dairy farm audit program
  • 07/2008 Attachment: Dairy farm audit checklist

News

Dairy industry and food safety regulation news is published quarterly in Foodwise

General news is available on the news page.