92001E3715

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3715/01

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(9 January 2002)

Subject: Colour coding for milk

Within the UK there exists a number of different colour codes for different types of milk.

In Plymouth, for example, skimmed milk is colour coded green. However, in Bristol, skimmed milk is coded red, and green is allocated to the semi-skimmed milk.

For people travelling regularly from one part of the country to another, this can lead to great confusion.

Can the Commission indicate if it is considering colour coding the packaging for milk, in order to ensure greater harmonisation?

Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission

(31 January 2002)

Marketing standards for drinking milk are laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 2597/97 of 18 December 1997 laying down additional rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products for drinking milk(1). This Regulation deals notably with sales denominations and compositional requirements for drinking milk but contains no provisions on the use of colour codes.

It should be underlined that the use of colour codes is a typical British phenomenon linked to the important market share of fresh milk sold in glass bottles. The Commission believes there is not sufficient justification for regulating the use of colour codes at Community level and that, therefore, the principle of subsidiarity should apply in this case.

(1) OJ L 351, 23.12.1997.