Promoting the improvement of dairy quality and safety

To conduct assessment audits and food safety audits on request from milk producers, processors and/or retailers. These audits include milk sheds and facilities where all dairy products, e.g. milk (fresh, UHT) cream, cultured/fermented milk, all varieties of cheese, ice-cream, milk powder, whey powder, butter and juice are processed and handled.

The primary objective of the DSA is the improvement of the quality and safety of milk and other dairy products. This can be achieved throughout the primary, secondary and informal industry by the successful implementation of a food safety management system.

DSA food safety audits are performed on request of dairy processors and producers. These audits identify non-conformances in the auditees’ food safety management programmes and provide them with possible corrective actions.

The DSA auditing system is a systematic approach to assist the dairy industry in implementing safety systems as provided for by South African National Standards and regulations issued in terms of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectant Act (Act 54 of 1972). It furthermore provides the industry with industry and sector-specific auditing service based on all the relevant legislation and standards pertaining to milk and other dairy products.

Through this project, the DSA transfers knowledge in respect of quality, food safety and legislative related issues at the request of roleplayers in the dairy industry, in order to improve the quality of dairy products sold to the consumer.