Genuine and fresh Maltese products must be safeguarded by every possible means, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech has said.

"Products such as fresh Maltese milk and its derivatives should remain accessible to the Maltese and Gozitans who prefer fresh and local items over imported alternatives."

During a visit to Malta Dairy Products, Grech spoke of the need for local companies that produce genuine local products such as milk to receive immediate support in order to remain sustainable. "This should be done through assistance for necessary investments so that the product can remain competitive in a global market where consumers have a wide range of choices."

This visit, held in preparation for Workers' Day 2025, included a delegation from the PN comprising Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Toni Bezzina, Shadow Minister for Consumer Rights and Animal Welfare Janice Chetcuti and PN general election candidate Norma Camilleri. The delegation discussed with MDP management the challenges and goals currently faced by the company.

"Malta Dairy Products has undergone significant changes over the years. Since the 1950s - when the MMU, as it was then known, acquired its first two pasteurisation machines - the company has continued to modernise its equipment and now operates to the highest production standards. However, the company is currently facing major challenges that must be addressed immediately. The Government, which holds a 30% share in the company, must invest without delay so that Maltese and Gozitan families are not deprived of the choice of fresh dairy products they have relied on for years. Such investment would also allow the company and its employees to continue operating and contributing to the Maltese economy," the PN said in a statement.

Currently, the company employs 170 workers and produces products using milk from 77 farms, 49 in Malta and 28 in Gozo.

"The feed for these farms is cultivated in fields across Malta and Gozo, and if sales of MDP products decrease, leading to a drop in demand for feed, these fields risk being lost. Malta Dairy Products supplies its products to numerous businesses and hospitals. The Government should set an example for other businesses by supporting local products in its institutions and giving priority to MDP's fresh products over imported ones. This is particularly important in places like hospitals and healthcare facilities, where patients should be given the freshest and most genuine options available."

The PN said that it has always believed in the Maltese product and has consistently worked to ensure that the authenticity of local products is preserved. "This is achieved by encouraging and supporting investment so that companies like Malta Dairy Products can remain not only sustainable but continue offering genuine products through facilities and processes that meet the highest standards. This will allow the Maltese and Gozitans to keep choosing fresh local products whenever possible."