Approved milk purchasers
Under the Milk Quota Scheme, an approved purchaser must keep records for all of its milk producers. Find out how to apply to become a purchaser.
An approved or ‘first purchaser’ is defined as a person or firm who buys milk wholesale from a producer to:
- treat or process (including contract processing)
- sell on to another person or firm to treat or process
Applying for approval
You can apply for approval as a purchaser to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) by using . You should read before completing your application.
You’ll need to submit your application and all supporting financial information at least one month before you intend to start purchasing.
Approval is not automatic. Before it is granted, inspectors will visit your business premises to ensure that you can meet RPA standards.
Trader registration number
Once registered, you will be given a trader registration number, which you should use on all forms and correspondence with RPA.
Delivery figures and butterfat content
As an approved purchaser, you must submit to RPA a volume delivery figure and weighted butterfat content as a single figure for each of your producers. This must be done on a monthly basis, using .
Monthly statistics
RPA uses these figures to produce cumulative total UK monthly production statistics at the beginning of each month.
You must also submit an detailing the annual volume delivery and weighted butterfat content for each of your producers. You must also list all producers who are registered with you but who have made no deliveries during a quota year on this form.
You should read before completing your annual return.
You must keep documents relating to your business activities. These should include:
- all books and registers
- accounts
- correspondence
- commercial data
These must be kept at your premises within the UK and be accessible to authorised persons at all reasonable times.
Records about your registered producers
You must keep records about each producer registered with you. These should include their:
- name and address
- wholesale quota
- allocated butterfat base
You must also keep records of any producers or undertakings who:
- treat or process milk and/or milk products on your behalf
- supply you with milk and/or milk products
You must also:
- inform RPA of changes affecting your business, premises and laboratories
- take regular samples of each product delivered by each producer and submit for testing to a laboratory approved by the RPA; use the to find one
Calculating and collecting the producer levy
You must calculate and collect any levy due from each producer within your group.
This is done by:
- calculating each producer’s volume and butterfat-adjusted delivery figures
- adjusting each producer’s delivery figures to take account of the fat content of their deliveries
- declaring these figures on your annual return
- paying any levy which may be due (RPA will invoice you if there is a levy to be paid)
Keeping records and inspections
You must keep records to show how you have managed your producers’ quotas, along with details of production and sales.
RPA may need to inspect these records from time to time.
How your records are used
RPA uses your records to verify the calculation of levies as required by EC Regulations. If you cannot supply records of the milk or milk products produced or delivered in any year, RPA will:
- make an estimate for that year using any available information
- calculate any levies using that estimate
More guidance
You can find more detailed information in the or contact the RPA’s Milk Quotas Section on: 01392 315763.
Last updated 24 April 2015 + show all updates
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Updated MQ13 form and Guidance for 2014 / 2015
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Purchasers annual return form and guidance updated for 2013 / 2014
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First published.