Dairy Industry Legislation and Regulatory Review

Saskatchewan's dairy industry is undergoing a legislative review.   The goal of this review is to draft new legislation that will accurately reflect the current and future operational needs of the industry while maximizing the efficiency of the system and providing an industry structure that ensures accountability to both the public and the Ministry.

To Accomplish this goal the government undertook extensive consultations with industry and the public at large.

Dairy consultation submissions demonstrated overwhelming support for the formation of a dairy marketing board under The Agri-Food Act, 2004.  The key benefits of this approach include:

• Minimizing the administrative burden within Saskatchewan's dairy industry;
• Having an informed producer board lead its industry while including a role for government to ensure accountability;
• Incorporating an independent appeal mechanism for use by all industry parties; and
• Establishing an operational and legislative framework that meets the needs of both the industry and the government.

Throughout the consultation process, the government, the producers and the processor have established a positive communication framework, a framework that has contributed to a thorough, effective and efficient process for moving forward through the dairy legislation changes and future industry operations.

The government would like to thank all consultation participants for their feedback on this matter.