III.Drinking milkU.K.
1.The following products shall be considered to be drinking milk:U.K.
raw milk: milk which has not been heated above 40 oC or subjected to treatment having equivalent effect;
whole milk: heat-treated milk which, with respect to fat content, meets one of the following requirements:
standardised whole milk: milk with a fat content of at least 3,50 % (m/m). However, Member States may provide for an additional category of whole milk with a fat content of 4,00 % (m/m) or above;
non-standardised whole milk: milk with a fat content that has not been altered since the milking stage either by the addition or removal of milk fats or by mixture with milk the natural fat content of which has been altered. However, the fat content may not be less than 3,50 % (m/m);
semi-skimmed milk: heat-treated milk whose fat content has been reduced to at least 1,50 % (m/m) and at most 1,80 % (m/m);
skimmed-milk: heat-treated milk whose fat content has been reduced to not more than 0,50 % (m/m).
Heat-treated milk not complying with the fat content requirements laid down in points (b), (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph shall be considered to be drinking milk provided that the fat content is clearly indicated with one decimal and easily readable on the packaging in form of "… % fat". Such milk shall not be described as whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk.
2.Without prejudice to point 1(b)(ii), only the following modifications shall be allowed:U.K.
in order to meet the fat contents laid down for drinking milk, modification of the natural fat content by the removal or addition of cream or the addition of whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk;
enrichment of milk with milk proteins, mineral salts or vitamins, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council(1);
reduction of the lactose content by conversion to glucose and galactose.
Modifications in the composition of milk referred to in points (b) and (c) shall be allowed only if they are indelibly indicated on the packing of the product so that it can be easily seen and read. However, such indication shall not remove the obligation as regards nutrition labelling laid down by Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. Where proteins are added, the protein content of the enriched milk must be 3,8 % (m/m) or more.
However, Member States may limit or prohibit modifications to the composition of milk referred to in points (b) and (c).
3.Drinking milk shall:U.K.
have a freezing point close to the average freezing point for raw milk recorded in the area of origin of the drinking milk collected;
have a mass of not less than 1 028 grams per litre for milk containing 3,5 % (m/m) of fat at a temperature of 20 °C or the equivalent weight per litre for milk having a different fat content;
contain a minimum of 2,9 % (m/m) of protein for milk containing 3,5 % (m/m) of fat or an equivalent concentration in the case of milk having a different fat content.
Regulation (EC) No 1925/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods (OJ L 404, 30.12.2006, p. 26).