IDF Column ¦ IDM
IDF publishes update on
dairy terms guidance
Author: Laurence Rycken, Science and Standards Program Manager
International Dairy Federation
The IDF’s update to its bulletin on the Codex General
Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms, also
known as the GSUDT, is now available, providing
the reader with the latest information on the
nature, content and possible implications of the
GSUDT in the context of national, regional and international
trade, including its status in relation to the WTO Agreement
on Technical Barriers to Trade. The update supports policymakers,
food business operators and enforcement authorities
in avoiding any erroneous use of dairy terms for nonmilk
products, essential for safeguarding consumer health.
The natural origin, nutritional value, functional properties,
and sensory characteristics of milk and milk products
have created the uniquely positive consumer perception
and strong market position of milk and milk products all
over the world. Protection of the integrity of dairy is vital,
given that the production and placement on the market of
nutritionally inferior imitations can pose potential health
risks for consumers. The Codex General Standard for the
Use of Dairy Terms (CXS 206-1999) was adopted by Codex
Alimentarius in 1999, corresponding to its mandate to ensure
the correct use of dairy terms intended for milk and
milk products, to ensure fair practices in the food trade,
and to protect consumers from being confused or misled
by the use of dairy terms for non-dairy products.
Globally recognized and implemented in the regulations
or policies of many countries all over the world, the clear
rules of the Codex GSUDT provide an internationally accepted
framework to protect the integrity of milk and milk products
against nutritionally inferior imitation products that attempt
to take advantage of the natural and healthy image of milk
and milk products. IDF Bulletin 507/2020: The Codex General
Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms – Its nature, intent, and
implications, has been developed to help policymakers, food
business operators and enforcement authorities interpret the
detail of the GSUDT. This new edition replaces previous Bulletin
of IDF No. 397 of 2005 on the subject.
The bulletin provides details on the GSUDT, covering
both labelling and promotional information about dairy
products and other foods for further processing as well
as for direct consumption, and information on application
of the terms “milk”, “milk product”, “composite milk
product”, “reconstituted milk product”, “recombined milk
product” and other “dairy terms” and information related
to the interpretation of Codex GSUDT. Its application assists
consumers all over the world in making their own purchasing
decisions regarding milk products versus non-milk
products and assists policymakers to ensure fair practices
in the food trade.
The publication of IDF Bulletin is accompanied by the
release of a supporting IDF Position Paper on the subject,
which provides an overview and key messages. The bulletin
and IDF Position Paper ‘The Codex General Standard for the
Use of Dairy Terms – Its nature, intent, and implications’ are
available to download free of charge on the IDF website
www.fil-idf.org.
January/February 2021 ¦ international-dairy.com · 21
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