Milk inquiry deadline extended again
20 January 1999
Milk inquiry deadline extended again
By FWi staff
THE deadline for the inquiry into the supply of raw milk has been extended for a second time following a request by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC).
Competition and consumer affairs minister Kim Howells agreed to a one-month extension which means the MMC are now due to report to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry by 26 February.
A previous announcement by Dr Howells last September had already extended the deadline until 26 January.
Dr Howells accepted that there were special reasons to grant a further extension.
Farmers Weekly Interactive understands that the MMC requested the extension to allow Milk Marque extra time to consider and comment upon evidence it had been sent for checking.
Standard practice means that MMC officials have to allow Milk Marque officials to check the factual accuracy of the parts of the report in which they are mentioned.
The fact that this is taking longer than expected reflects the particularly copious and complex nature of the material involved.
The Director General of Fair Trading referred the supply of raw milk in Great Britain to the MMC almost a year ago.
The MMC were originally asked to report back by 26 October last year but there are no limits to the number of extensions which may be granted.