❓ Hon. George Cash questions the Minister for Agriculture and Food about the rehydration of powdered milk and its sale as fresh milk in WA. The Minister acknowledges the practice occurs to meet compositional standards, particularly in winter.
AnsweredQoN 207Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
REHYDRATED MILK
I ask the minister some questions about the impact of the deregulation of the dairy industry in Western Australia, and the importation of fresh milk into Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware of instances of powdered milk being rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? (2) Can the minister advise whether it is currently lawful for powdered milk to be rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE
I ask the minister some questions about the impact of the deregulation of the dairy industry in Western Australia, and the importation of fresh milk into Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware of instances of powdered milk being rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? (2) Can the minister advise whether it is currently lawful for powdered milk to be rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
(1) Is the minister aware of instances of powdered milk being rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? (2) Can the minister advise whether it is currently lawful for powdered milk to be rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
(2) Can the minister advise whether it is currently lawful for powdered milk to be rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
(1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
(1) Is the minister aware of instances of powdered milk being rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? (2) Can the minister advise whether it is currently lawful for powdered milk to be rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
(2) Can the minister advise whether it is currently lawful for powdered milk to be rehydrated and sold as fresh milk in Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
(1)-(2) The answer is technically yes and yes, but given the form of the question, I have to qualify the answer somewhat. The answer to the first part of the question is yes, but only as an additive in order to meet the strict legal requirements for the composition of milk. There is a period during the year, most commonly mid-winter, when the quality of the fat content and solids-not-fat content - the calcium content - of Western Australian milk falls below the standards which are set for human consumption. That milk has to be fortified by the addition of full cream dried milk powder. However, it is not a process of reconstitution, which is normally understood to be when the whole of the calcium and fat content of the milk is contributed to by the addition of dried milk - in other words, it is a mixture of water and milk powder. That does not occur in Western Australia and I do not believe it can occur. To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
To the second part of the question, the answer is yes, I am aware of occasions when it occurs. Indeed, it occurs quite frequently but, as far as I am aware, only in mid-winter. If the honourable member would like me to, I will make inquiries on the frequency. I would like to know the answer to that. Therefore, I will be happy to share that knowledge with the honourable member.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.