New version of the EU School Milk Scheme has been adopted.

Background

On 26 September 2007, the Council adopted a package of measures that introduced a flat-rate subsidy for the European School Milk Scheme. This meant that for the first time, skim milk distribution will have the same financial support as full fat milk. It was hoped that this would contribute towards reducing childhood obesity by enabling schools to provide healthier milk options without losing money. The initiative was taken as a result of concern about the public health effects of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The school milk scheme introduced a flat-aid rate (Eur16,11/100 kg) for milk distributed in schools, regardless of its fat content.

The most recent version of the EU School Milk Scheme

The School Milk Scheme has recently been reviewed by the European Commission taking into account a number of requests and suggestions from the Member States, the European Parliament and the European Council.

With the review of the scheme a number of new products have become eligible for the EU-subsidy. Further to various types of drinking milk, in the future children will have the access, among others, to certain fermented milk products with fruit or fruit juice, plain fermented milk products, such as yoghurt, buttermilk, kephir etc., and a wide range of cheeses.

The EU-subsidy, moreover, will be the same for full-fat, medium-fat or low-fat products. Member States will have the possibility to choose the products they wish to distribute from the list of eligible products and they will also have the possibility to apply stricter standards than those set out in the Community list.

With the new Commission Regulation(EC) No 657/2008, secondary schools will have the same access to the scheme as nursery schools, other pre-school establishments and primary schools. Secondary schools were in the past often not participating in the School Milk Scheme as it was not obligatory for the Member States to include them.The new scheme has, according to the Commission, simple and clear implementation rules.

"The School Milk Scheme has both nutritional and educational character and contributes to the fight against obesity and to providing essential elements for children’s growth and health", saidMariann Fischer Boel, EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development.

EPHA’s opinion

EPHA welcomes the decision taken in 2007 on introducing a flat-rate for the subsidies given to milk products provided to children, which was pivotal since high-fat products were favored previously. Dairy products are an important source of nutrients, but it is important not to consume too many products with a high fat content.

Therefore EPHA believes further measures should be taken to subsidise the most healthy products instead of having a flat-rate. In this way the new scheme would truly boost consumption and healthier consumer habits starting from childhood.

The new scheme is introducing new types of dairy products as mentioned above. Some of these products, such as cheese, can be rather high in fat and moderate consumption is recommended.

It is important to combine the introduction of these new products with information to both children, parents and school staff, so the scheme will actually contribute to the fight against obesity and not fuel the fire.

For further information:

Commission Regulation(EC) No 657/2008