An audit of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) supervised infant formula and follow-on formula establishments has found that controls in place to ensure product safety are well organised and effective.

However, the audit recommended that DAFM should implement a system whereby food business operators (FBOs) inform the department immediately of any issues which may affect the safety of the products manufactured, even where there is no legal requirement to do so.

This was due to the nature of the product produced and the vulnerable consumer population.

Given the complex nature of these businesses, it also recommended there be further specialist training for inspectors at plants in order to maintain the adequacy and effectiveness of controls.

Infant formula is one of the Irish dairy industry's most important exports. Specialised nutrition products accounted for almost a third of all Irish dairy exports in 2017 and were valued at €1.3bn.

Ireland currently produces approximately 10% of global infant milk formula. Much of the demand abroad for these products is driven by Ireland’s reputation for producing a safe product.

Watch: shopping at China's superconnected supermarkets

China to ‘rewrite the rules’ of agri food trade

Threats to infant formula safety should be reported immediately – FSAI

A recent report of an audit by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland found five food business operators (FBOs) producing infant formula performed strongly, but more controls are needed.