§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out the various grades of milk that may be sold in the Common Market, stating the appropriate regulations, the articles in the Accession Treaty that exempt the United Kingdom from such provisions, and when they expire; and what steps he has taken to extend exemptions or amend the regulations, respectively.
§ Mr. BishopEEC Regulation 1411/71 specifies four main types of liquid milk which may be sold to the consumer. They are raw milk, whole milk, semi-skimmed milk and skimmed milk. Raw milk is assumed to be "as it comes from the cow". For the other three types, which must have been heat treated, the regulation sets standards for the fat content which they must contain. Whole milk is required to have a fat content naturally equal or superior to 3.5 per cent., or which has been brought to at least that level. Apart from this, member States are authorised to provide for an additional whole milk category with a fat content fixed by them of not less than 3.8 per cent.
Under Article 89 of the Treaty of Accession the United Kingdom has a derogation allowing the supply to consumers until 31st December 1975 of whole milk with a natural fat content of less 347W than 3.5 per cent. We have not so far sought either the extension of this derogation or an amendment of the regulation.