Ornua has decided to ban the use of chlorine-based detergents used to wash milking parlours and milk processing plants.
The ban will come into effect in 2020 in order to protect the status of Irish dairy products and ingredients.
In the past some analysis has shown some traces of trichloromethane (TCM) residue in products such as butter.
The ban was revealed at a research meeting last week and came as a surprise to all those in attendance, including co-op representatives who were setting up 2019 research plans with chlorine products.
The purchase price of detergents for farmers is likely to increase
It will leave farmers and suppliers with less than 12 months to switch to chlorine-free products.
Chlorine products are widely used for cleaning parlours and milk processing plants.
Chlorine is renowned as a great cleaning agent, but requires care on the concentration of the chlorine and rinsing afterwards.
In the short term, the purchase price of detergents for farmers is likely to increase.
Also, additional hot water is normally required when using non-chlorine products in milking parlours.
“At the end of 2018, the board of directors of Ornua Co-operative considered the progress made, since 2007, to reduce trichloromethane (TCM) residue in Irish dairy products,” an Ornua spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“While significant progress has been made to reduce chlorine residues, it was felt that more work was needed by all stakeholders to embed and drive change across the supply chain.”
The spokesperson added that Ornua’s December 2018 board meeting agreed unanimously to refocus efforts to remove chlorine-based detergents on farm and at sites by the end of 2020 and increase communication and education on the impact of chlorate/TCM at site and farm level.
Read more
Best practice when switching to chlorine-free detergents
Gearing up for another year of milking
Ornua has decided to ban the use of chlorine-based detergents used to wash milking parlours and milk processing plants.
The ban will come into effect in 2020 in order to protect the status of Irish dairy products and ingredients.
In the past some analysis has shown some traces of trichloromethane (TCM) residue in products such as butter.
The ban was revealed at a research meeting last week and came as a surprise to all those in attendance, including co-op representatives who were setting up 2019 research plans with chlorine products.
The purchase price of detergents for farmers is likely to increase
It will leave farmers and suppliers with less than 12 months to switch to chlorine-free products.
Chlorine products are widely used for cleaning parlours and milk processing plants.
Chlorine is renowned as a great cleaning agent, but requires care on the concentration of the chlorine and rinsing afterwards.
In the short term, the purchase price of detergents for farmers is likely to increase.
Also, additional hot water is normally required when using non-chlorine products in milking parlours.
“At the end of 2018, the board of directors of Ornua Co-operative considered the progress made, since 2007, to reduce trichloromethane (TCM) residue in Irish dairy products,” an Ornua spokesperson told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“While significant progress has been made to reduce chlorine residues, it was felt that more work was needed by all stakeholders to embed and drive change across the supply chain.”
The spokesperson added that Ornua’s December 2018 board meeting agreed unanimously to refocus efforts to remove chlorine-based detergents on farm and at sites by the end of 2020 and increase communication and education on the impact of chlorate/TCM at site and farm level.
Read more
Best practice when switching to chlorine-free detergents
Gearing up for another year of milking
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