Brussels, 14/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - In response to requests from member states and the European Parliament, the European Commission adopted a new version of the EU programme for milk distribution in schools. Union aid will henceforth cover a broader range of dairy products ranging from traditional drinking milk to cheeses, but will also include a number of fermented milk products, flavoured or non-flavoured, yogurt, buttermilk, kefir cheese, etc.
Aid amounts to €18.15/100 kg for category I products (heat-treated milk, including chocolate, fruit juice or flavoured); €16.34/100 kg for category II products (flavoured and non-flavoured fermented milk products with fruit); €54.45/100 kg for category III products (flavoured and non-flavoured fresh and processed cheeses); €164.14/100 kg for category IV products (Grana Padano cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese); and €138.85/100 kg for category V products (favoured and non-flavoured cheeses containing at least 90% by weight of cheese and not falling under categories III and IV). During the school year 2006/2007, the equivalent of 305,000 tonnes of milk was distributed in schools of 22 member states, with Community participation amounting to over €50 million. (L.C./t'ransl.jl)