WIREDGOV

The EC has decided to send reasoned opinions to Cyprus, Italy and the UK as they failed to communicate national transposition measures to the EC on marketing standards for certain milk products, namely caseins and caseinates (Directive (EU) 2015/2203).

The labelling rules laid out in this Directive aims at providing a high level of protection of health, aligning EU legislation on food with international standards and facilitating the free movement of these products by food business operators. Member States had to transpose the Directive into national legislation and inform the Commission of such measures by 22 December 2016.

Caseins, which are found in milk and can be used independently in many industries as a binding agent, have a wide variety of uses, from being a major component of cheese, to use as a food additive. Caseinates provide important nutritional properties, contain all of the essential amino acids and are used notably in cheese-making, in protein supplements and in coffee creamer powders.

The EC's requests take the form of a reasoned opinion and follow letters of formal notice, which the Commission had sent in January 2017. The Member States have two months to comply with their obligations; otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice of the EU.