A new national program to encourage the use of Canadian milk appears to have scored it's first major victory.
Agropur Cooperative says because of the program, it is immediately discontinuing the use of imported diafiltered milk.
President Serge Reindeau says the new national program makes it possible for Agropur to stop using imported diafiltered milk while remaining competitive nad supporting its members and all Canadian milk producers.
The national program supports access to Canadian ingredients at competitive prices.
It was established by the Canadian Milk Supply Management Committee, which includes representatives from the milk marketing boards and governments of all the provinces.
However, it's only an interim program - it runs out the end of July.
Agropur's Riendeau is urging the federal government to act quickly to enforce the Canadian cheese standard established in 2008.
Canadian dairy farmer groups argue the so-called diafiltered milk coming into this country violates those standards when used in cheese production.
Agropur processes more than 5 point 7 billion litres of milk per year at it's 39 plants across North America.
