Regulation (EU) 1308/2013: the designation “milk” and the statement of the animal species

Background

Who, when, what kind of text

Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 governs the common organisation of the markets in agricultural products in the EU. Its Annex VII contains definitions and sales descriptions for certain products; Part III concerns milk and milk products.

The rules go back to older provisions protecting dairy designations and apply directly in all Member States. They are marketing law: they lay down which products may be described in which way, and say nothing about the properties or effects of a type of milk.

Donkeys are not specifically mentioned in the text. The provisions apply to milk from all animal species; the obligation to state the animal species applies to any milk that does not come from cows.

Content

What the source reports about donkey milk

Point 1 reserves the term “milk” exclusively for the product of normal mammary secretion obtained from one or more milkings, without any addition or extraction. Exceptions concern, for example, treatments that do not alter the composition, and additions such as indications of type, origin or intended use.

Point 2 defines “milk products” as products derived exclusively from milk and reserves designations such as whey, cream, butter, cheese, yoghurt, kefir and koumiss for such products.

Point 4 stipulates: if it is not cow’s milk, the animal species of origin must be stated. For milk from she-asses, this results in the designation “donkey milk” or an equivalent indication of the animal species.

Point 6 prohibits giving the impression, through labelling, advertising or presentation of other products, that they are a dairy product.