EDA celebrates 30th anniversary of the EU protection of dairy terms
In the EU, milk and dairy products have been legally recognised for decades as unique in their nutritional composition, quality and source, being the secretion from a mammal. On 14 June 2017, the European Court of Justice reaffirmed the uniqueness of milk and dairy to mark the 30th anniversary of the EU protection of dairy terms.
On 2 July 1987, the Council of the European Communities implemented a protection of dairy terms in Regulation (EEC) No 1898/87. This regulation established a clear ‘EU’ definition of ‘milk’, as well as conditions of a fair competition between milk and competing products in the field of product designation, labelling and advertising. The regulation has also served to promote milk and milk products in the EU.
The European Court of Justice has now reaffirmed that purely plant-based products can never use dairy designations such as ‘milk’, ‘cream’, ‘butter’, ‘cheese’ or ‘yogurt’ neither standing alone nor in combination, which are reserved by EU law for animal products.
Alexander Anton, EDA secretary general comments on the ruling, “The unique and natural blend of micro- and macronutrients of milk and dairy products cannot be matched by any plant-based products. The European Court of Justice ruling protects European consumers: dairy terms like ‘milk’, ‘butter’, ‘whey’, ‘cheese’ or ‘yogurt’ cannot be used by vegetable ersatz-products.
“Even in explaining the difference on the packaging, those plant-based products are not allowed to misuse our dairy terms for marketing their products. We as the European Dairy Association (EDA) and all our members welcomed this clear ruling of the Court and we are pleased to celebrate this 30th anniversary of an important part of consumers protection and quality policy of the European Union.”
