They highlight advances for the sector such as the construction of a laboratory and compliance with labeling regulations
For the first time in the specifications to participate in the tenders to be a supplier of milk for the school breakfast, it was included that this must be 100% national production and must also be certified by the National Council for the Regulation and Promotion of the Dairy Industry (withmilk).
This measure has a positive impact on students, who will receive quality milk and nutrition guaranteed and economically to local milk products to increase the offer with good prices.
The adviser of Executive power in cattle raising, Eric Rivero, assured that this is an achievement of 2022 and that it has always been a historical demand of the livestock sector. “Now the producer will have the possibility of growing because it has a market and at adequate prices, it also guarantees the children that they will receive quality milk and not with formulas as in all previous years,” he said.
The executive director of Conaleche, Miguel Laureano, said that since October 2022 the invoices of the suppliers for the National Institute of Student Welfare (Inabie) must have the certification of the entity.
He stated that they hold periodic meetings with the team of the inabie to guarantee the supply in all the schools of the country with rations of milk of absolute quality and at the prices established by the Inabie. He also highlighted the importance of this type of programs in schools, since they significantly help reduce malnutrition levels in the country.
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In another order, Rivero highlighted that together with the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) work is being done on the construction of a laboratory to evaluate and guarantee the safety and nutrition of the dairy products that are served in schools, but it will also be used for all foods. He said that this laboratory is expected to be ready in 18 months.
Labeling standards
Rivero highlighted as a milestone that in September 2022 the National Institute for the Protection of Consumer Rights (Pro Consumidor) issued a resolution in which it set a period of 120 calendar days for industrialists, merchants and importers, for mandatory compliance with the labeling standard in the Dominican Republic (Nordom 53).
He informed that this will allow all the labels of the products that are marketed, imported, produced, or have ordered the partial or total production of a previously packaged food by a third party, to be in Spanish and to say the name of the food, specific and not generic, list of ingredients, net content and drained weight, name and address of the manufacturer, packer, distributor, importer or seller of the food, among others.
In addition, during the interview Laureano highlighted that in 2022 Conaleche approved RD$410 million in 316 producers, ranchers and dairy processors. And last November the first dairy observatory was launched, a tool to know the behavior of prices at an international level.
