What is the Farm Dairy Assessment?
In New Zealand, for dairy farms to operate, they must be covered by a Risk Management Programme (RMP), registered with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). An RMP provides assurance to customers and consumers that the product produced is safe, true to label, and fit for purpose. As part of the RMP, MPI requires a farm dairy assessment be undertaken annually by an MPI recognised Dairy Assessor. The Assessment covers the regulatory obligations set out by MPI through NZCP1, Animal Products Notice: Production, Supply and Processing, Animal Products Regulations 2021, and the Animal Products Act (1999).
Food Safety
The food safety assessment covers five sections:
- Quality Management
- Premises Hygiene
- Premises Structures
- Plant and Equipment Hygiene
- Plant and Equipment Structures
Throughout the assessment, any hazards identified will be rated either: Minor, Major, Major Revisit or Critical.
Each hazard is determined based on the level of risk to product safety.
- Critical = Poses a real and potential threat to product safety and must be attended to promptly (30 points)
- Major Revisit = The hazard could cause milk contamination or cause milk to deteriorate, but not to the extent that product safety is at risk. The Major Hazard must be remedied by a Dairy Assessor Revisit (20 points)
- Major = The hazard could cause milk contamination or cause milk to deteriorate, but not to the extent that product safety is at risk (10 points)
- Minor = Unlikely that milk quality will be affected, but would enhance on-farm practices and/or farm dairy presentation (3 points)
Each section is rated as per below. This is determined through a points total, tallied by adding all hazards identified within each section.
- A = 0 - 9
- B = 10 - 29
- C = 30 or over - and is considered unsatisfactory and a return visit is required
A return visit is also required If you received two or more majors in one section at the assessment.
Presentation
From a customer perception and marketing perspective, the appearance of the farm dairy and its surroundings is as important as the quality of the milk produced. The farm dairy must be well presented and well maintained.
Presentation is assessed over four areas:
- Farm Milk Collection Area and Dairy Surrounds
- Entrance, Tanker Roadway, Tanker Loop
- Storage of Equipment and
- Farm Dairy Exterior and Yard
The farm dairy assessor will assign an overall rating of Excellent, Very Good, Satisfactory, or Unsatisfactory.
Follow up
When a Major Revisit, Major or Critical Hazard is identified on the farm dairy report, the assessor will detail corrective actions and will give an "action by date" to remedy each hazard. If a revisit is required the date and time is noted on the farm dairy report. Failure to attend to the hazard by the action by date/reassessment date will result in further action.
Skip sections of your assessment
- Parts of your assessment could be skipped, if you have had excellent performance in past years. Fonterra is the only dairy company approved by MPI to offer this.
- You’ll be advised in your assessment notification email from QCONZ if you’ve qualified for a simplified assessment. Note that MPI still requires farmers to have a full assessment every four years and QCONZ may still ask for more detail on some evidence on the day to satisfy MPI requirements.