2024-02-19 17:36:34
The Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis, requested the intervention of the competent judicial authorities and the Greek Police, in order to facilitate the work of checks on the circulation of milk from abroad.
At the same time, after a meeting he had with the president of EFET Antonis Zambelas, the vice-presidents of ELGO DIMITRA Nektarios Vidakis and Panagiotis Hatjinikolaus, the secretary general of the Ministry of Rural Development Giorgos Stratakos, the regional governor of Epirus Alexandros Kahrimanis, the president of ETHEAS Pavlos Satolias, the head of the General Directorate of Food Vassilis Michalopoulos and officials of the Ministry, a series of actions were decided to protect the domestic production of milk and the products produced from it, with the minister giving an order for a holistic policy in controls. Specifically, with the assistance of the competent authorities, checks will be made in specific parts of the country on tankers transporting milk, as relevant complaints have been made. Also, mixed levels of EFET and ELGO DIMITRA will carry out checks everywhere, especially in super markets, where they will take samples of the checked milk products with the aim of complying with the legislation regarding labeling, as well as the milk balances that each keeps manufacturing. Controls will also be carried out for compliance with the specifications for PDO and PGI products.
In addition, in a letter to the Minister of Development Kostas Skrekas, Lefteris Avgenakis requests the activation of any control mechanism of the Ministry of Development, which could contribute to the effort to protect Greek production.
The Minister of Rural Development and Food emphasized that all the actions foreseen by the Greek legislation will be taken to maintain milk prices at levels that correspond to the supply and demand, as it has been formed.
At the same time, Mr. Avgenakis, on Wednesday evening, contacted the president of the Association of Dairy Products Industries Christos Apostolopoulos and informed him about his initiatives. He asked to inform the members of SEVGAP that the Ministry of Rural Development and Food will not tolerate practices that lead to contracts with reduced milk prices, in a period when there is reduced production and increased demand.
“The state’s obligation is to check the faithful implementation of the existing legal framework and to prepare any changes that are required. At the same time, however, it is our obligation and duty to take the necessary steps to protect our farmers, processors and consumers. It must be made clear that all Greeks are equal before the law. And we all have to respect him. Those who do not, will certainly face consequences,” he said in a statement.