IIimo cries foul over cheaper foreign milk

LOCAL dairy producer Ilimo Dairy Farm has lodged a complaint with the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission over the unfair trade practices employed by some overseas producers.
The complaint was lodged after foreign producers lowered the price of a one-litre UHT milk or long life milk at some Port Moresby retail outlets to below the landed cost.
The costs for the same products in Lae and other parts of the country remained the same, or increased.
Statistics provided by PNG Customs show that the average landed price of UHT Milk in Port Moresby is K4.40 a litre. However, outlets in Port Moresby are selling the product at K3.95. In Lae, the same product is being sold for K6.85.
Ilimo Dairy lawyers have requested the ICCC to investigate the matter.
Innovative Agro Industry (IAI) chairman Ilan Weiss said IAI will not be complacent when faced with unfair trade practices initiated by foreign competitors.
“We will take the necessary actions at our disposal to protect the local agriculture industry and the PNG consumer,” Weiss said.
“We are pioneering the development of a dairy industry in PNG to make the nutritional benefits of quality dairy products available and affordable to all Papua New Guineans. Our dairy products are crafted by Papua New Guineans.
“Ilimo Dairy alone created hundreds of jobs and an increasing number of out-grower opportunities. We are not a global dairy conglomerate with opportunistic practices in Papua New Guinea.
“We’re doing our part to keep the PNG consumers’ kina onshore while producing a world-class product that the country can be proud of.”