March 2007 update on protein standardisation of dried and condensed milk
Thursday 8 March 2007
Consultation on a proposed change to a European Council directive permitting protein standardisation of dried and condensed milk.
On 21 March there will be an EC working group meeting to discuss a draft Council Directive amending Council Directive 2001/114/EC, which sets composition and labelling criteria for dried and condensed milks. Whereas at the moment protein standardisation of dried and condensed milks is not permitted, this proposed amendment will permit protein standardisation of these products to 34%.
Protein standardisation, in this case, involves modifying the protein content of a dried or condensed milk to a standard value, in this case 34%.
The proposal to allow protein standardisation of dried and condensed milks is one of a group of proposed changes to several pieces of European Dairy legislation (Council Directive 2001/114/EC, Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 and Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97). While the FSA is responsible for the specific legislation on dried and condensed milk, most of the overall package of changes being discussed is covered by Defra. Therefore Defra is organising the consultation on the overall dairy package in cooperation with the FSA. Defra has produced a consultation document containing details of all the proposals which can be found at http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/dairy-package/index.htm.
The consultation runs from 8 March to 19 April (six weeks). However, since the first meeting to discuss the proposal to permit protein standardisation of dried and condensed milk is on 21 March, any comments which you can provide by 19 March would be appreciated.
Any comments on the consultation document or the proposed changes to legislation contained in it should be sent to:
Anne Freeman / Pauline Crellin
Milk Branch
Livestock Products Division
Defra
Area 5D, 9 Millbank
c/o 17 Smith Square
London SW1P 3JR
Tel: 020 7238 3090 / 3099