As an expert body which is supported by all dairy industry groups, the Association is mainly involved with the following tasks at national level:

• It represents the interests of the dairy industry as an agreed position when it approaches the relevant federal authorities,
• brings about a coordinated statement of the dairy industry and
• encourages coordination between the federal authorities and the dairy industry.

As IDF Germany, the VDM is responsible for the overall coordination of Germany’s cooperation within IDF so that the German dairy industry is represented in a well-balanced manner on an international level. On behalf of the member associations and the Federal Government, the VDM nominates the experts for the IDF committees and expresses its opinion regarding international requests for information directed to the German National Committee.

While representing the whole dairy sector and closely cooperating with the relevant organizations for standardization such as ISO, IDF; CEN and DIN, the VDM is in charge of the entire standardization and harmonization procedure at national and international levels.

Furthermore, the VDM advises the Federal Government and the IDF in Codex Alimentarius.

By expressing its opinion and developing manuals and guidelines, the VDM significantly helps the dairy industry and the federal authorities to find a common language where environmental and safety relevant parameters are to be assessed.