Relevant legislation and the changes to be made to facilitate protein standardization of milk products.
1995
Heggum C.
National legislation in most dairy producing countries regulates in detail the production and sale of dairy products. Therefore, national legislation usually includes definitions of most dairy products, of which, kind(s) of raw materials and ingredients, permitted technology, composition and nomenclature are essential parts. A survey of current legislation of major producing countries will show that protein standardization of basic dairy products is restricted, and if not, usually only protein enrichment is permitted, and in many cases, only by respecting certain general principles. Protein enrichment is further provided for in some Codex standards for milk products. Provisions for decreasing milk protein content of basic dairy products are currently not permitted in most countries. Therefore, introducing such provisions will involve several legislative issues. The purpose of dairy legislation is primarily to protect consumers and to secure fair trade of safe and wholesome products. However, legislative initiatives should not include restrictions and/or provisions unless they can be monitored. In respect of the above and by paralleling current national and international legislations, general principles, providing standardization, should be established. Such principles should include (1) maintaining the definition of 'milk', (b) methods of protein standardization, (c) expression of min/max protein contents in certain commodity standards, (d) denomination issues, (e) roles of national and international legislation. Finally, the necessary changes in Codex regulations on milk products if protein standardization is to be facilitated are pointed out. It is strongly recommended that national and regional governments do not take any initiatives on this issue until Codex has 'shown the way'.
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