Regional Government launches tender for construction of new building for São Miguel Milk Classification Service (SERCLA) - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Agricultura e do Desenvolvimento Rural

The Council of the Government has authorised the launch of the public works contract procedure, through a public tender, for the construction of a new building for the São Miguel Milk Classification Service (SERCLA), with an estimated base price of 1.8 million Euros and a completion period of 18 months.

The new building will be built on land already reserved for the purpose and will accommodate SERCLA's laboratory and administrative services located on the island of São Miguel. It will include all the features required for the normal operation of this type of unit, particularly in terms of laboratory specifications, access and movement of workers and users, as well as the necessary support buildings.

This tender results from the fact that the current facilities do not ensure the growth, intensification and consolidation of the planned work, not only in terms of market responsiveness but also in terms of the availability of spaces for the establishment of laboratory circuits required by international standards due to this new capacity.

Milk production is considered the main economic activity of the Azores. Based on excellent quality pastures, the entire sector has experienced unparalleled developments in terms of productivity, raw material quality, industrial modernisation, and diversification and enhancement of the resulting dairy products.

In this context, SERCLA, the public service responsible for milk classification under the administration of the Institute for Food and Agricultural Markets (IAMA- IPRA.), conducts a series of physical, chemical and microbiological tests on milk produced across the Region on a daily basis in its laboratories located on the islands of São Miguel and Terceira.

As a result of these tests, a large number of indicators are used to determine the price of milk paid to producers by the various regional industries.

The data provided by SERCLA to the industries and producers on a regular basis provide for the payment of milk not only on the basis of its quality in terms of solid constituents, but also on the basis of its hygiene and health conditions.