The Act of Parliament on the word milk
The European Parliament in its plenary session approved a strengthening of the protection for dairy denominations. Vegetable drinks, such as those based on soy , almonds, oats , etc., cannot be called “milk”. Different in composition and in the very origin of the raw material, veg drinks and milk of animal origin are two products that differ above all from a nutritional point of view .
For some time in the European Union it has not been possible to use the word “milk” to define some vegetable drinks, such as, for example, one above all, soy drinks. However, the vote of the European Parliament goes further, as it does not limit itself to confirming the rules in force since 2017, which prohibit the improper use of the typical names of dairy products such as: butter, cheese, yogurt or the very word ” milk “. With this vote, Parliament also decided to ban evocations and imitations: for example, the use of expressions such as “milk-like drink” or “milk substitute” . Just as tofu can no longer be defined as a “vegetable cheese”,or soy may not bear words such as “milk substitute” on the label . This is a protection of milk denominations similar to that envisaged for PDO and PGI.
The protection of the denomination
The European assembly has therefore decided to reiterate its opposition to the use of the name milk for products based on soy, almonds, rice , oats and other derivatives of non-animal origin. The protection of dairy denominations in Europe began as early as 1987 and was confirmed with subsequent regulations. Furthermore, with various sentences, the Court of Justice of the European Union has punctually confirmed the protection of dairy denominations. The latest, in chronological order, was the well-known TofuTown Judgment, which established that the European ban on the use of dairy names is valid even if plant-based products are accompanied by indications that specify their origin, i.e. the nature vegetable of the product.
