The document provides 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 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 use of dairy terms intended for milk and milk products, to ensure fair practices in the food trade, and to protect consumers from what it said is “being confused or misled by the use of dairy terms for non-dairy 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 IDF Bulletin 397 of 2005 on the subject.
Melissa Cameron, from Dairy Australia, and chair of the IDF Standing Committee on Standards of Identity and Labelling, said, “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. This update supports policymakers, food business operators and enforcement authorities in avoiding any erroneous use of dairy terms for non-milk products, essential for safeguarding consumer health.”
IDF Bulletin 507/2020 provides details on the GSUDT, covering both labeling 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.
IDF Bulletin 507/2020: The Codex General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms - Its nature, intent and implications is free to download from the IDF website. The publication is accompanied by the release of a supporting IDF Position Paper on the subject, which provides an overview and key messages.