A Bill to make provision for the minimum prices payable to dairy farmers for the production of milk; to establish minimum distances between intensive dairy farming operations and the nearest settlements; and for connected purposes.
The Bill contains three main provisions.It would establish an advisory minimum price to be paid to dairy farmers for milk production, unless this minimum price was made mandatory by an order of the Secretary of State. The terms of such an order would require the price to be reviewed at least every six months, and would ensure that the price paid exceeded the cost of milk production by a typical dairy farmer by at least 30%.It would introduce a 'Fair Milk Mark' system, to indicate which milk or milk products had been produced from milk for which the minimum price had been paid. Packaging for products not bearing this designation and not originating from the EU would be required to specify their country of origin.It would provide for a compulsory minimum separation zone of five miles between intensive dairy farming operations and the closest residential settlement (defined as five or more dwellings within one mile of each other). This provision would not be retrospective in its effect.
House of Commons
1 May 2012
The Dairy Farming Bill would establish an advisory minimum price for milk paid to dairy farmers, with the price potentially made mandatory by a government order and reviewed at least every six months to ensure it covers at least 30% above typical production costs. It would create a 'Fair Milk Mark' to show products produced under that minimum price and require country-of-origin labelling for non-EU products. It would also introduce a compulsory five-mile separation zone between intensive dairy farming operations and nearest settlements, with the rule not applying retrospectively.
The Bill is currently at the 2nd Reading in the House of Commons and has not progressed to further stages yet.
Generated 21 February 2026
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
