NDC Mark

NDC Launches Mark for Milk & Cream 'Farmed in the Republic of Ireland'

In September 2009, the National Dairy Council (NDC) developed a new packaging mark which gives consumers in the Republic of Ireland the assurance that they are supporting thousands of local jobs, because the milk or cream they are purchasing has been farmed and processed in the Republic of Ireland.

Consumers Can Support Thousands of Local Jobs

“The National Dairy Council mark empowers consumers in the Republic of Ireland to make more informed choices when they are shopping about supporting 2,193 local dairy farm families and 2,483 jobs in local dairies and co-ops, because they can clearly identify what milk or cream products have been both farmed and processed here, in the Republic of Ireland,” says Helen Brophy, Chief Executive of the National Dairy Council.

“This mark allows consumers to select products which contribute to our own tax returns, which contribute to our own economy and which also contribute to our own communities through initiatives such as the School Milk & Dairy programme,” said Ms. Brophy.

The National Dairy Council mark can only be printed on those milk and cream products approved under licence by the NDC to carry it, with regulation and auditing managed by a Monitoring Committee appointed by the NDC.

The National Dairy Council mark will be introduced initially to consumer milk and cream categories, which amounts to hundreds of pack types and sizes across products including cream, whole milk, skimmed milk, semi-skimmed milk, buttermilk, lactose free milk, flavoured milk or fortified milk.

Those dairies or co-ops which already have products licenced to carry the NDC mark are:

Arrabawn Co-operative Society Ltd. Clóna Dairy Products Society Ltd. Donegal Creameries Dawn Dairies (a division of the Kerry Group) North Cork Co-operative Creameries Ltd.

Centenary Thurles Co-operative Society Ltd. Connacht Gold Co-operative Society Ltd. t/a Sligo Dairies Glanbia Consumer Foods (a division of Glanbia plc) Lee Strand Co-operative Creamery Ltd. Wexford Creamery Ltd.

 

Packs featuring the new mark will be available to consumers on retail shelves on a phased basis, mainly from October 2009 to January 2010, with a full list of licensed products published on this web site.

Consumers Urged to Get Behind the Mark

“The development of this concept has been supported by extensive consultation with the dairy industry and by research which demonstrates that consumers welcome the kind of clarity which this mark will provide,” says Helen Brophy.

“We would like to urge consumers to watch out for the National Dairy Council mark on packaging in the coming months. In these times of economic challenge we are asking consumers to show their support for local jobs on dairy farms and in the dairy sector in an active way, when they decide what milk or cream they are going to buy.”