In Europe, production of milk products is regulated by specific laws and regulations that include national and international laws and regulations. General food laws and veterinary laws also apply to the milk industry as only a healthy herd that has been bred in line with the provided welfare requirements provides quality products.
Laws and Regulations Governing Labelling of Foodstuffs
Labelling of foodstuffs has been developed to guarantee that consumers would have complete information on the contents of foodstuffs and they would be able to protect their health and interests.
• Council Directive 2000/13/EC includes general provisions on labelling of foodstuffs, as well as governs certain aspects in regard to packaging and advertising of foodstuffs.
• European Parliament and Council Directive 2003/89/EC amending Directive 2000/13/EC provides indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs.
• Council Directive 90/496/EC provides energy value and nutrition (for example, protein, carbohydrates, fat, fibre, sodium, and vitamins and minerals) on labelling for foodstuffs that has been amended by Commission Directive 2003/120/EC.
Laws and Regulations Governing Hygiene of Foodstuffs
• EU Food Law (Regulation No.178/2002) lays down the general principles and requirements, and procedures of food law.
• Regulation No.852/2004 of hygiene of foodstuffs provides requirements for all participants of food chain (in all food production, processing, and distribution stages, as well as for imports, primary production, wholesale, and retail sales of foodstuffs).
• European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No.853/2004 lays down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin.
Official Control of Foodstuffs
• Commission Regulation (EC) No.2073/2005 of 15 November 2005, on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs.
• European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No.854/2004 laying down specific rules for the organisation of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption.
• Commission Regulation (EC) No.2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs.
• European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) No.2017/625 on official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law, rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products.
Food Additives
• European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No.1333/2008 on food additives.
• Commission Regulation (EU) No.1274/2013 of 6 December 2013 amending and correcting Annexes II and III to
Regulation (EC) No.1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Annex to Commission Regulation (EU) No.231/2012 as regards certain food additives.
Laws and Regulations Governing Flavouring of Foodstuffs
• Regulation (EC) No.1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending Council Regulation (EEC) No.1601/91, Regulations (EC) No.2232/96 and (EC) No.110/2008 and Directive 2000/13/EC (tex with EEA relevance).
• Regulation (EC) No.1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
• Regulation (EC) No.2232/96 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down a Community procedure for flavouring substances used or intended for use in or on foodstuffs.
Food Enzymes
• Commission Regulation (EU) No.1056/2012 of 12 November 2012 amending Regulation (EC) No.332/2008 of the
European Parliament and of the Council on food enzymes with regard to transitional measures.
• Regulation (EC) No.1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
• Regulation (EC) No.1332/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food enzymes and amending Council Directive 83/417/EEC, Council Regulation (EC) No.1493/1999, Directive 2000/13/EC, Council Directive 2001/112/EC and Regulation (EC) No.258/97.
• Commission Regulation (EU) No.234/2011 of 10 March 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No.1331/2008 of the
European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common authorisation procedure for food additives, food enzymes and food flavourings.
• Commission Regulation (EU) No.1130/2011 amending Annex III to Regulation (EC) No.1333/2008 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on food additives by establishing a Union list of food additives approved for use in food additives, food enzymes, food flavourings and nutrients.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No.562/2012 amending Commission Regulation (EU) No.234/2011 with regard to specific data required for risk assessment of food enzymes.
Production and Processing of Foodstuffs
• Regulation (EC) No.178/2002 laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the
European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety.
• Regulation (EU) No.1308/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a common organisation of the markets in agricultural products and repealing Council Regulations (EEC) No.922/72, (EEC) No.234/79, (EC) No.1037/2001 and (EC) No.1234/2007.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No.931/2011 on the traceability requirements set by Regulation (EC) No.178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council for food of animal origin.
• Commission Regulation (EC) No.37/2005 on the monitoring of temperatures in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human consumption.
Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/1906 amending Regulation (EC) No. 282/2008 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foods.
• Commission Regulation (EU) 2015/174 amending and correcting Regulation (EU) No.10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (text with EEA relevance).
• Commission Regulation (EU) No.10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
Organic Farming
• Council Regulation (EC) No.834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No.2092/91.
• Commission Regulation (EC) No.889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No.834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control.
Institutions Monitoring Production of Foodstuffs, Including Milk Processing Industry in Latvia
Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Latvia
https://www.zm.gov.lv/en/
Food and Veterinary Service
https://www.zm.gov.lv/en/partikas-un-veterinarais-dienests/statiskas-lapas/startpage?nid=2531#jump
Rural Support Service
http://www.lad.gov.lv/en/about-us/general-information/general-information/
Agriculture Data Centre
http://www.ldc.gov.lv/en
Terms:
Regulation - is a regulatory enactment that imposes obligations and is directly applicable in all Member States.
Directive - is a regulatory enactment that imposes obligations to the Member States in regard to goals to be achieved, however, the national institutions are entitled to chose means to achieve these goals. The Member States transpose the directives into their national law.