Financial costs for small cheese producers to comply with the law requirements of the Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract

Cheese production has great economic importance, particularly for small producers who experience difficulties in meeting the Minas Gerais State regulations. This study aimed to identify the degree of compliance with these regulations, assess the cost of the necessary adjustments and propose measures for compliance with the legislation by cheese producers. The study was conducted in 25 dairies from the Campos das Vertentes region. Data were obtained by questionnaires applied in the cheese establishments, and State inspection technicians who worked in the region. The degree of compliance with the legislation ranged from 22% to 68%. Only 37% of cheese producers attended 49% or more of the items of legislation; the remaining attended less than 50%. Compliance costs ranged from R$ 4,914.00 to R$ 30,395.00. Fifty-eight per cent of the cheese producers need to invest less than R$ 15,000.00 and the others at least R$ 25,000.00. It was found that the investments for adaptation to legislation were well above the income earned by the individual cheese producers. An alternative to non-artisanal cheese type producers, which represented the majority of them, would be to form an association in order to centralize production and reduce costs. For producers of artisanal cheese an alternative would be to adjust by stages, prioritizing those items related to hygiene and safety. Considering the importance of the activity and the demand for these products, there is need for financial support of government policies to allow the producers continue in their activity while ensuring quality and safety of cheese to consumers. .