Application for accreditation as a dairy establishment to produce skimmed milk powder or butter for private or public storage

Dairy establishments located in Wallonia intending to have their production of skimmed milk powder or butter certified for private or public storage.

TO SUMMARISE

Prerequisites for accreditation:

1. FASFC health approval
2. Suitable technical installations

Undertakings to obtain and maintain accreditation:

1. Keep a register.
2. Agree to inspections by the OPW’s Agricultural Controls Directorate (DCA).
3. Communicate the manufacturing programmes.
4. Use cow's milk produced in the EU and guarantee this.
5. Comply with the hygiene requirements for foodstuffs of animal origin.

CONDITIONS PRIOR TO ACCREDITATION

Your dairy establishment must first make an accreditation application:

1. for health approval from the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) in accordance with the specific hygiene rules applicable to foodstuffs of animal origin
2. for suitable technical facilities:

• to produce skimmed milk powder and butter in accordance with your establishment’s undertakings (see below)
• to allow checks to be made of the manufacturing of skimmed milk powder and butter.

 YOUR DAIRY ESTABLISHMENT’S UNDERTAKINGS

To be accredited, your dairy establishment must:

• keep, on an ongoing basis, a register documenting each batch of milk powder produced or each batch of butter produced and intended for public storage:
• the origin of the raw materials used
• the quantities of skimmed milk powder or butter obtained
• its packaging
• its identification

All the detailed information concerning the keeping of the register and its inspection can be found on pages 11 and 12 of the skimmed-milk powder or butter circular (see ‘Explanatory documents’ section).

• agree to official inspections of its manufacturing of skimmed milk powder and butter, and in particular:
• cooperate to allow the Agricultural Controls Directorate (DCA) [Direction des Contrôles agricoles] of the OPW at any time to carry out any inspections planned or deemed appropriate by the latter
• provide the human and material resources to carry out these inspections
• communicate their manufacturing programmes (see ‘Communication of manufacturing programmes’ on page 8 of the skimmed-milk powder or butter circular under ‘Explanatory documents’)
• produce the skimmed milk powder or butter from cow’s milk produced in the Union
• provide the DCA with:
• the relevant invoices and/or delivery notes for the raw materials used with the supplier’s self-declaration and guarantee that raw materials used originate from the European Union. If certain self-declarations are not available at the time of the on-site inspection, the dairy establishment must forward them to the DCA within 15 days of the date of the on-site inspection
• full traceability for lots selected at random by the DCA
• produce skimmed milk powder or butter that meet the hygiene requirements for foodstuffs of animal origin, in particular as regards the preparation in an approved establishment in compliance with the conditions relating to identification labelling.

These undertakings must be maintained at the risk of withdrawal, suspension of your accreditation (see p. 6 of the circulars on skimmed milk powder or butter circular in the section ‘Explanatory documents’).

APPLICATION FOR ACCREDITATION

Complete your application for approval (see the ‘Forms’ section below).

Indicate for which production(s) of skimmed milk powder or butter your establishment wishes to be accredited.

All accreditation applications FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SKIMMED MILK POWDER must be accompanied by the following documents:

1- a description of:

• the manufacture of skimmed milk powder, of buttermilk (possibly in powder form) and of whey (possibly in powder form), accompanied by a diagram detailing the production of the said skimmed milk powder, buttermilk and whey,
• from the arrival of the milk until the packaging and labelling of the packages

2- des précisions de fréquence concernant la production du lait écrémé en poudre:

• irregular or daily
• production days and/or periods of production hours

3- information on the average quantity of the skimmed milk powder produced per week

4- a valid and recent certificate showing the FASFC approval number

5- an undertaking from your dairy establishment to comply with the relevant provisions regarding:

• self-inspection
• compulsory notification
• traceability in the food chain

All applications for approval FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BUTTER must be accompanied by:

1- a description of the production of the butter, accompanied by a diagram detailing the production of the butter, from the arrival of the milk or cream to the packaging and labelling of the packaging.

2- frequency details regarding the production of butter:

• irregular or daily
• production days and/or periods of production hours

3- information on the average quantity of butter produced per week

4- a valid and recent certificate showing the FASFC approval number

5- an undertaking from your dairy establishment to comply with the relevant provisions regarding:

• self-inspection
• compulsory notification
• traceability in the food chain

 SENDING YOUR APPLICATION TO THE OPW

Your accreditation application must be sent by post or email to the SPW ARNE OPW

SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment

Organisme Payeur de Wallonie

Agricultural Structures Directorate

Chaussée de Louvain, 14

5000 NAMUR

PRIOR INSPECTION BY THE DCA

Prior to the granting of the approval, the DCA shall conduct an on-site investigation to verify that:

• your dairy establishment meets the prerequisites for accreditation; and
• it is capable of complying with the terms of the undertakings covered by the accreditation application.

ISSUING OR REFUSING ACCREDITATION

The OPW verifies the completeness of your accreditation applicationand takes note of the DCA prior inspection report.

It will make a decision within 7 calendar days from receipt of the inspection report and notify you of the granting or refusal of your accreditation as a dairy establishment by post or by email.

CONTENT OF THE ACCREDITATION

The accreditation specifies, in particular, the date from which the dairy establishment may produce skimmed milk powder or butter for the private and/or public storage for which it is accredited.

The approval granted takes effect from the date of the favourable inspection carried out by the DCA.

ANNUAL INSPECTION OF THE ACCREDITATION CONDITIONS

Once a year, the DCA inspects on site whether:

• your dairy establishment still meets the prerequisites for accreditation, and
• whether it complies with the manufacturing process

The annual inspection report on the DCA is accompanied by the latest inspection report from the FASFC.

It is forwarded to the OPW, which assesses it and decides:

• to maintain your accreditation
• suspend it
• or withdraw it

The OPW will inform you of its decision by post or email.

BRINGING AN APPEAL AGAINST THE DECISION TAKEN BY THE OPW

You may lodge an appeal with the Director of the Paying Agency of Wallonia within 45 calendar days dated from, either:

• the day after the issuing of this decision
• the day after a notice is received from the postal services advising of this dispatch

There are various ways of submitting your appeal to the OPW:

• by a dated and signed email sent to info.opw@spw.wallonie.be
• by registered letter for the attention of Mr Olivier DEKYVERE, Chaussée de Leuven, 14, 5000 Namur
• by letter sent by private couriers with acknowledgement of receipt for the attention of Mr Olivier DEKYVERE, Chaussée de Leuven, 14, 5000 Namur
• by submitting a document with acknowledgement of receipt for the attention of Mr Olivier DEKYVERE, Chaussée de Leuven, 14, 5000 Namur

• EU Regulation No. 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of December 17, 2013 on the common organization of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Regulations (EEC) No. 922/72, (EEC) No. 234/79, (EC) No. 1037/2001 and (EC) No. 1234/2007 of the Council
• Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1238 of 18.05.2016 supplementing Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards public intervention and aid for private storage
• Commission Regulation (EU) No. 2016/1240 of 18.05.2016 laying down detailed rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No. 1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards public intervention and aid for private storage