10 TRCMPU Dairy Cooperatives Win ISO 22000 2018 Certification

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
As part of its aim to obtain ISO 22000 2018 certification for all its dairy cooperatives, the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union Ltd (TRCMPU – Milma) has succeeded in achieving the certification for 10 of its cooperatives.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan formally declared the certification from ISO at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan today. The Governor presented the ISO certificates to representatives of three of these ten Co-operative Societies on the occasion.

The Governor lauded the role of Milma in Kerala achieving self-sufficiency in the dairy sector. Shri Khan said Milma‘s contribution in empowerment of women is also significant, and expressed his appreciation that the representatives of the three co-operatives who received the Certificates from him were women.

“In the initial phase of ISO 22000 2018 certification of dairy cooperatives, we have successfully completed all formalities in 10 Dairy Cooperatives and the certification body SGS (Société Générale de Surveillance) has awarded certification to them,” said Kallada Ramesh, Chairman, TRCMPU.

TRCMPU has three dairy plants in Thiruvananthapuram (3 lakhs Litre Per Day (LPD) capacity), Kollam (2 lakh LPD) and Pathanamthitta (1 lakh LPD). All three dairies have the ISO 22000 2018 (Food Safety Management System) certification, he pointed out.

“In the next phase of growth, we are on the way to equip all Primary Dairy Cooperatives to acquire ISO 22000 2018 certification and to uplift the level of their functioning to international standards,” he said.

As part of its efforts to raise standards, all staff and other stakeholders of the Bulk Milk Chilling Centres were given intensive training and TRCMPU provided technical assistance to develop additional infrastructural facilities.

ISO 22000 2018 is an International Food Safety Management system developed by the International Organization of Standardization. This certification is issued by an agency accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Certifying Bodies (NABCB) under the umbrella organization Quality Council of India (QCI).

The adoption of a Food Safety Management System (FSMS) is a strategic decision for an organization that can help improve its overall performance in food safety.

TRCMPU is a farmers’ organization affiliated to Kerala Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited organized under Operation Flood Programme implemented by the National Dairy Development Board.

It has completed three decades of nourishing Kerala through successful service for the welfare of dairy farmers in Southern Kerala by ensuring regular supply of quality milk and milk products to consumers spread over four districts with 923 Primary Dairy Cooperatives, 4.2 lakhs LPD milk procurement, 94 Bulk Chilling Centres, 7,610 retail outlets, 5.1 lakh LPD milk sales and annual turnover of above 1,100 crores.

The milk collected by the 923 Primary Dairy Cooperatives is transported through cluster routes to 54 Bulk Chilling Centres situated in the rural areas. After ensuring compositional as well as microbial quality, the milk is chilled below 5 deg C and then transported to dairies owned by TRCMPU. The milk is then processed and supplied to consumers through retail outlets by ensuring 100% cold chain.

The ISO Certification declaration ceremony was graced by Kallada Ramesh, Chairman, TRCMPU, Ayyappan Nair, Director, TRCMPU, Sadasivan Pillai S, Director, TRCMPU, Rajasekharan K, Director, TRCMPU, Suresh Kumar R, Managing Director, TRCMPU, Usha G, Secretary, Ivarkala BMCC, PN Remavathi, Secretary, Vallikunnam BMCC, Joice P John, Secretary, Vechoochira BMCC.