Catalogue description Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Milk Marketing: Registered files (MKM Series)

The Milk and Milk Products Division was formed on the amalgamation in 1955 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry of Food taking over from the latter responsibility for policy on milk production, supply and consumption, the milk trade and prices, hygiene and quality control in dairies, the administration of the Milk and Dairies Regulations in wholesale and retail premises and the operation of the milk guarantee through the Milk Marketing Board.

The introduction of European Community milk quotas in 1984 resulted in a reorganisation of the Division's responsibilities and the formation of three separate Milk and Milk Products Divisions. Division I dealt with milk production, consumption, trade and prices and the CAP. Division II handled domestic milk policy, the Milk Marketing Scheme, health and hygiene matters for milk and milk products and the Importation of Milk Regulations. Division II was formed to oversee the introduction of milk production quotas in the United Kingdom, including the Milk Quota Supplementary Levy, the outgoers scheme and the Dairy Produce Quotas Tribunal, and in 1985 its functions were absorbed into Division I, Division III being abolished. In 1989-90 Division I was renamed the Milk (European Community) Division and Division II was renamed the Milk Marketing Division, though functions remained basically unchanged. In 1990 the two divisions were merged to form the Milk and Milk Products Division, which became the Milk, Pig, Eggs and Poultry Division in 1996.