ESPOCH Congresses (Sep 2021)

Situational Analysis of the Production of Milk and Cheese in Several Productive Sectors of Ecuador and Its Quality Under Ecuadorian NTE INEN Regulations

  • Eder Lenin Cruz Siguenza,
  • Gloria Elizabeth Miño Cascante,
  • Fabián Eduardo Bastidas Alarcón,
  • Mónica Patricia Cruz Siguenza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.18502/espoch.v1i5.9563
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 5
pp. 1246 – 1277

Abstract

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Abstract Nationwide there are higher levels of dairy product consumption compared to eight years ago, when the production of dairy products was sectorized in several provinces. This has spread around the country either by hand or on an industrial level. Some of the most outstanding include Carchi, Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, Bolívar and Chimborazo. Other southern ones include Cañar, Azuay and Loja. Most of the production, trade, and industrialization of milk and its derivatives has been developed in these mountain areas, which have similar climatic characteristics. Current regulations are not complied with in many of these sectors. The public regulatory institutions include INEN (Ecuadorian Standardization Service), ARCSA (Agency for Sanitary Regulation and Control), AGROCALIDAD, MIPRO (Ministry of Industry and Productivity, SRI (Internal Revenue Services), MT (Ministry of Labor), GAD's (Decentralized Autonomous Governments); these work to ensure the well-being of consumers. Minimum compliance of the regulations must be obtained for legal and sanitary operation. The minimum technical regulations specified for cheeses that artisans must comply with are the PCH's, HACCP and the BPM's. Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) are common in rural areas, which often lack important factors, such as basic services, adequate education, road systems, and proper facilities for industrialization. The COVID-19 pandemic makes the future even more uncertain and an accentuated crisis will persist for many years in Ecuador.

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