A CHANGE in competition law that will help prevent potentially thousands of litres of milk a day going to waste is a vital lifeline for dairy farmers, a leading Ludlow agricultural lawyer has said.

Rural expert Iain Morrison has praised the government’s decision to suspend certain competition rules and allow farmers to essentially work together during the coronavirus pandemic.

The shutdown of restaurants and cafes has seen demand for milk from commercial premises fall away, despite a surging need for bottles for people self-isolating or working from home.

Mr Morrison, partner and head of rural and agricultural affairs at law firm mfg solicitors, said famers had been pouring milk away despite earlier shortages in the supermarkets.

“With the UK producing around 40 million litres of milk every day, there have been stories of farmers waiting for lorries to turn up to take their fresh milk away and then being told they aren’t coming,” said Mr Morrison.

“This has been because customers in the restaurant, café and pub sectors have shut during the lockdown and though people still need milk and the supermarkets have had plenty of demand for it, they’ve not been able to sell it on.