EU announces increased funding for school milk
Published 17 September 2007

The European Parliament has agreed that budget savings worth €117.3 million (c. £80million) from its agricultural subsidy programme, from reduced intervention prices and export refunds, will be re-invested in the dairy industry in the form of a ‘Milk Fund Restructuring Programme’.

The programme will include an increase in the rate of funding for school milk, from €16.11 to €18.15/100kg to help promote a balanced nutritional diet among children due to the increased incidence of obesity. In addition, it has been suggested that milk classification will also be changed allowing for more than the existing three categories of whole, skimmed and semi-skimmed milk. This is in response to growing consumer demand for reduced fat products.