Provincial Auditor's Report

The Provincial Auditor's annual report was released on December 2nd, 2003. The report included follow-up comments to the 2001 Annual Report in which deficiencies were noted in OMAFRA's Raw Goat Milk Quality Program. Since the release of the 2001 report, the Food Inspection Branch has directed efforts towards improvements in the areas noted by the Provincial Auditor at that time. The 2003 report reflects the progress made in the Raw Goat Milk Quality Program, including:

• the Ministry now has a complete and up-to-date list of goat milk producers maintained on a computer data base;
• a new inspection checklist for dairy goat farms has been developed and is in use;
• two full time inspectors have been hired by the Ministry to enhance the inspection process;
• inspection report deficiencies are being monitored to ensure that producers correct these on a timely basis or face suspension of milk shipments;
• a baseline study of goats' milk quality in the province is being conducted;
• policy development, consultation, and drafting of new regulations under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 is in progress and is expected to be completed in 2004; and
• improvements have been made to the number of producers with goat milk samples tested monthly. Unacceptable bacterial levels in goats' milk triggers a visit from the Ministry to the farms to correct the deficiencies.