PURPOSE: the amendment of Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 in order to simplify certain rules.
LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 1153/2007 amending Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk
BACKGROUND: this proposal was presented as a package, alongside two other, related proposals on the dairy sector. The other two proposals adopted alongside this one concern amendments to:
Current legislation states that only three categories of drinking milk may be produced and marketed in the EU namely: skimmed milk (0.5% fat or less); semi-skimmed milk (1.5% and 1.8% fat) and whole milk (3.5% fat or more).
However, a large number of derogations to the above exist. These derogations will expire in 2009.
CONTENT: the purpose of this Regulation, therefore, is to amend Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/1997 on the dairy sector in order to liberate the drinking milk market by allowing the production and marketing of milk with fat contents outside the three established categories. In essence the amendment states that heat treated milk shall be considered drinking milk provided that the fat content is clearly indicated with one decimal and easily readable on the packaging in the form of “… % fat”. However, such milk cannot be described as whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 7 October 2007.
APPLY: 1 January 2008.