EU takes legal action on UK dairy

Curd cheese contained out-of-date milk and floor waste

The European Commission has launched legal proceedings against the UK for allegedly failing to deal with hygiene problems at a Lancashire dairy.

European Union experts imposed a trading ban on Bowland Dairy last week after complaints that it had used material unfit for human consumption.

The commission said the government had broken EU law by not halting "unlawful and unhygienic practices" at the dairy.

The UK has five days to respond to the commission's letter of formal notice.

The procedure could lead to a case against the UK being filed at the European Court of Justice.

Antibiotic residues

Commission investigators said the dairy in Nelson, Lancashire, used mouldy cheese and "floor waste" to make its curd.

A company spokesman said it no longer used "floor waste" - cheese which falls off factory conveyor belts into stainless steel vats - after consultation with the Food Standards Authority.

The commission also said there was evidence that raw milk containing antibiotic residues or contaminated with substances such as detergents and dyes was being used to make curd cheese with out-of-date milk collected from shops.

Bowland claimed it was the "unfortunate victim" of a dispute between the commission, the UK Government and the UK Food Standards Agency over EU requirements for antibiotic testing of milk.

It has been forced to call in receivers, and will close on Friday.