PURPOSE: the amendment of Council Directive 2001/114/EC in a bid to simplify certain rules.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Directive 2007/61/EC amending Directive 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption

BACKGROUND: this proposal forms part of a package that has been approved alongside two other related acts that have been approved concerning the dairy sector. The other two acts concern the amendment of:

Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products. See CNS/2007/0026 Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk. See CNS/2007/0027 .

Since 1999 the accepted level of protein for dry milk, as approved by the Codex Alimentarius Committee, varies from that set in the EU. As a result the Community’s dairy industry and exporters of milk powders and condensed milk have requested a modification of Community rules on protein contents in such products.

CONTENT: the purpose of this amending Directive, therefore, is to modify the protein content standards in line with Codex approved protein contents, minimum content of 34% expressed in fat free dry matter. The intervention price for skimmed milk powder (SMP) is currently based on a protein content of 35.6%. With a Community standardisation of 34% the intervention standard should be logically aligned to that level.

As far as the financial consequences are concerned, it is estimated that standardisation of preserved milk, together with a reduction in the intervention price for SMP of 2.8% is likely to lead to a minor increase of SMP production while the bulk of the supplementary quantity of proteins obtained through standardisation will be absorbed by increased production of cheese and fresh dairy products. In turn, that increase will generate a higher fat use in those products and a correspondingly lower butter production and butter export. Overall, standardisation will lead to budgetary savings.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 7 October 2007.

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Elisabeth JEGGLE (EPP, ED, DE), and approved the proposal amending Directive 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption.

It should be noted that, to simplify the common market organisation (CMO) in milk and milk products, the Commission proposed three sets of amendments to current legislation. This proposal is closely related to the proposal on amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products (CNS/2007/0026) and the proposal amending Regulation (EC) No2597/1997 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk (CNS/2007/0027.)

By adopting the report by Elisabeth JEGGLE (EPP, ED, DE), the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development approved, without amendment, the proposal amending Directive 2001/114/EC relating to certain partly or wholly dehydrated preserved milk for human consumption.

The Commission proposes allowing standardisation of protein content in the Community and bringing it into line with the standard of the Codex Alimentarius (a minimum protein content of 34%, expressed in fat-free dry matter). The natural protein content of milk powder is currently between 31 and 37%.

PURPOSE: the amendment of Council Directive 2001/114/EC in order to simplify a number of rules.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Directive.

BACKGROUND: this proposal is being presented as a package, alongside two other, related proposals on the dairy sector. The other two proposals concern the amendment of:

- Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products. See CNS/2007/0026

- Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk. See CNS/2007/0027 .

Since 1999 the accepted level of protein for dry milk, as approved by the Codex Alimentarius Committee, varies from that set in the EU. As a result the Community’s dairy industry and exporters of milk powders and condensed milk have requested a modification of Community rules on protein contents in such products.

CONTENT: the purpose of the proposed amendments, therefore, is to modify the protein content standards in line with Codex approved protein contents, minimum content of 34% expressed in fat free dry matter. The intervention price for skimmed milk powder (SMP) is currently based on a protein content of 35.6%. With a Community standardisation of 34% the intervention standard should be logically aligned to that level.

As far as the financial consequences are concerned, the Commission suggests that standardisation of preserved milk, together with a reduction in the intervention price for SMP of 2.8% is likely to lead to a minor increase of SMP production while the bulk of the supplementary quantity of proteins obtained through standardisation will be absorbed by increased production of cheese and fresh dairy products. In turn, that increase will generate a higher fat use in those products and a correspondingly lower butter production and butter export. Overall, standardisation will lead to budgetary savings.

PURPOSE: the amendment of Council Directive 2001/114/EC in order to simplify a number of rules.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Directive.

BACKGROUND: this proposal is being presented as a package, alongside two other, related proposals on the dairy sector. The other two proposals concern the amendment of:

- Council Regulation (EC) No 1255/1999 on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products. See CNS/2007/0026

- Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk. See CNS/2007/0027 .

Since 1999 the accepted level of protein for dry milk, as approved by the Codex Alimentarius Committee, varies from that set in the EU. As a result the Community’s dairy industry and exporters of milk powders and condensed milk have requested a modification of Community rules on protein contents in such products.

CONTENT: the purpose of the proposed amendments, therefore, is to modify the protein content standards in line with Codex approved protein contents, minimum content of 34% expressed in fat free dry matter. The intervention price for skimmed milk powder (SMP) is currently based on a protein content of 35.6%. With a Community standardisation of 34% the intervention standard should be logically aligned to that level.

As far as the financial consequences are concerned, the Commission suggests that standardisation of preserved milk, together with a reduction in the intervention price for SMP of 2.8% is likely to lead to a minor increase of SMP production while the bulk of the supplementary quantity of proteins obtained through standardisation will be absorbed by increased production of cheese and fresh dairy products. In turn, that increase will generate a higher fat use in those products and a correspondingly lower butter production and butter export. Overall, standardisation will lead to budgetary savings.