Brussels, 01/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has sent a formal notice to Italy, calling on it to repeal the national law which bans the use of powdered milk, concentrated milk and reconstituted milk in cheese production. The Commission argues that current Italian law banning the use of milk substitutes is a restriction on the free movement of goods.
In a press release published on Tuesday 30 June, the Slow Food movement says that this is a mistaken decision and argues that Italy should rather become the example to be followed for high quality milk production in Europe.
“We hope that the Italian government will defend this law”, said Piero Sardo, president of the Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity. “In the wake of chocolate that contains no cocoa butter and grape-free wine, industrialists are trying to muscle in on another major Italian agri-food sector, always looking to do things more cheaply. If the law change demanded by Europe came about, the Italian quality dairy and cheese sector, which has already been hit by low milk prices and by the difficult conditions for those who work high mountain pastures, would be very seriously affected” (our translation). Slow Food has worked for many years to promote raw milk cheeses, mountain produce, traditional techniques and native breeds of animals.
Cheese 2015, which will take place in Bra (Italy) from 18 to 21 September, is where all who hold the European quality dairy and cheese heritage dear will want to be, Slow Food says. (Lionel Changeur)