(Ecofin Agency) - In Cote d’Ivoire, there is a new regulation that prevents Europe-imported milk from entering the market. The law which has been signed by Cote d’Ivoire’s Minister of Trade states that expiring period for Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) Milk is no more eight but three months.

The new policy thus, French Magazine Jeune Afrique highlights, excludes European milk from local market given transportation time between Europe and Africa. It will surely have a negative impact on the performances of European dairy companies such as Lactalis who makes 10% of its African sales in Cote d’Ivoire.

However, one might wonder if the law has not been implemented to drive the dairy companies to set shop in the country rather than just flooding the market with products which have been manufactured in Europe.

Anyhow, before these companies decide to choose that option, Eurolait (Eurofind’s subsidiary) can rejoice considering that it is currently in that situation and thus is Cote d’Ivoire’s sole UHT milk provider.

Aaron Akinocho