ETHIOPIA – Holland Dairy, a leading dairy processor in Ethiopia, has achieved ISO 22000:2018 certification, a globally recognised food safety standard.
The regulatory accomplishment marks Holland Dairy as one of the first dairy companies in Ethiopia to meet such a high level of international food safety requirements, further solidifying its commitment to delivering safe, high-quality products to consumers.
“This certification is a huge deal for us. It ensures that our entire food production process, from the farm to the fridge, is safe and reliable,” the company shared.
The achievement results from months of dedicated efforts by Holland Dairy’s food safety team, led by Louis Blaak, Habib Bushira J. Aman Gizaw, Metasebia Mulugeta, Alemitu Tolera, and Jack van de Worp.
Holland Dairy also acknowledged the invaluable support received from Gloserv and DQS, whose expertise contributed to this success.
As one of Ethiopia’s prominent dairy companies, Holland Dairy is now setting new benchmarks in food safety.
However, the company sees this certification as just the beginning. “ISO 22000 might be a big deal now, but our goal is for it to become business as usual in Ethiopia,” the company stated, noting its long-term vision of making food safety an integral part of the country’s dairy sector.
Holland Dairy sources all its raw milk from local farms in Ethiopia, with a particular focus on supporting small-scale farmers.
By prioritizing local sourcing, the company aims to bolster rural communities, which rely heavily on dairy farming for their livelihoods.
Dairy farming is vital to Ethiopia’s economy, especially in rural areas.
According to a report by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ethiopia possesses the largest livestock population in Africa, with approximately 70.3 million cattle, 42.9 million sheep, and 52.5 million goats.
The livestock sector contributes around 45% of the agricultural GDP and 18.7% of the total national GDP. Additionally, it accounts for a significant portion of the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Ethiopia’s dairy production largely depends on indigenous cattle, camels, and goats, with cattle being the largest contributors to national milk output.
Despite the country’s vast potential for dairy development—thanks to its genetic livestock resources, diverse agro-ecologies, and growing demand for milk progress has been hindered by challenges.
These include production constraints related to genotype, feeding systems, access to services and inputs, and a slow adoption of improved technologies.
Moreover, systemic issues such as inefficient marketing systems, limited access to finance, and weak regulatory enforcement have further hampered growth in the sector.
Holland Dairy’s achievement in obtaining ISO 22000 certification sets an important precedent for the Ethiopian dairy industry, aligning with efforts to overcome these challenges.
By investing in modern food safety standards and local farming, the company is working to boost Ethiopia’s dairy development potential while maintaining a focus on community support and sustainability.
“We’re on a mission to make food safety in Ethiopia as common as cows in dairy!” the company said.
“With this milestone, we are well on our way to driving further growth and development in Ethiopia’s dairy industry, ensuring both safety and quality for consumers.”
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