Milk, cheese : common organisation of the market CMO (amend. Regulation (EEC) No 2204/90)

PURPOSE: to present a Commission proposal for a Council Regulation amending Regulation 2204/90/EC laying down additional general rules on the common organisation of the market in milk and milk products as regards cheese. CONTENT: Council Regulation 2204/90/EC makes the use of casein and caseinates in the manufacture of cheese subject to prior authorisation. Where quantities of casein and caseinates are used without authorisation, Article 3(3) of that Regulation lays down a penalty equal to the difference between the value of skimmed milk resulting from the intervention price for skimmed-milk powder on the one hand and the maret price for casein and caseinates, plus 10%, on the other hand. The aim of that penalty is at least to cancel out the economic advanctage resulting from the unauthorised use of casein and caseinates. In this connection, it must be stressed that using the intervention price for skimmed-milk powder to measure the full value of skimmed milk is not a suitable approach. The real value of skimmed milk may vary with the situation on the market as reflected by the market price for skimmed-milk powder. As a consequence, the calculation of the penalty should be based on the market price for skimmed-milk powder. The appended proposal amends Article 3(3) of Regulation 2204/90/EC accordingly. �