An analysis of the main laws regulating the dairy bovine farmer in Malta

Abstract

This term paper analyses the legal regime in place regulating the dairy bovine farmer in the setting up and running of a bovine farm in Malta. The milk sector underwent major changes following Malta‟s accession to the EU. Therefore, this term paper will focus on the relevant Maltese laws in place following the transposition of EU directives and application of EU regulations; in order to provide a better understanding of the problems which arose in practice, and the impacts such laws had on dairy bovine farmers. Statistics show that after EU membership, the number of registered bovine farmers decreased, however the volume of milk produced remained more or less the same. This paper looks into what has contributed to this change by looking into the impact that EU legislation has had on the local dairy bovine farmer. Section 3 focuses on the main legislation regulating the setting up and up keeping of a dairy bovine farm, by looking into the farmer‟s main obligations in building and keeping of the farm premises up to EU standard and the rearing of bovines. Therefore this section will analyse the requirements for bovine identification and registration, manure management and animal welfare practices. Section 4 focuses on the main legislation regulating the production and delivery of raw milk on the farmer‟s holding. This is done by looking into hygiene requirements which the farmer needs to follow while producing and delivering raw milk. Also this section looks into the contract which the farmer is obliged to have with the processor of raw milk for the daily delivery of the milk produced.