The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation Limited (QDO) has been given the green light by the ACCC to run its ‘Fair Go Dairy’ licensing scheme for the next five years
Under the scheme, QDO will grant processors a licence to use the ‘Fair Go Dairy’ logo on qualifying dairy products.
These products must contain at least 80% unprocessed milk that was produced by Queensland dairy cows and purchased from a Queensland dairy farmer for more than or at a price QDO considers as ‘fair’.
QDO is an advocacy organisation representing the interests of dairy farmers across Queensland. QDO is a not-for-profit organisation with voluntary dairy farmer membership.
Processors that comply with the ‘Fair Go Dairy’ scheme will be able to affix the following registered trade mark to resulting dairy products (milk, dairy cream, dairy desserts and cheese variants):
“We consider the ‘Fair Go Dairy’ scheme will likely result in a small degree of public benefit,” ACCC Deputy Chair Mick Keogh said.
“The scheme is likely to give consumers more information about the price paid to the farmers supplying the milk for participating products. It may also be a useful tool for dairy processors to signal to consumers what they are paying Queensland farmers.”
A number of smaller processors in Queensland are likely to qualify for the scheme and have expressed an interest in participating.
So far, no major milk processors in Queensland have indicated they will participate in the scheme.
In 2021/22 QDO has calculated an initial minimum price of 73.8 cents per litre processors have to pay farmers in order to participate in the scheme.
The ACCC’s authorisation is granted until 2026.
Further information, including a copy of the ACCC’s determination, is available at Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation Limited.
