A core priority of the International Dairy Federation (IDF) is to advocate for the protection of dairy terms. In light of emerging technologies, IDF has released a position paper on the use of dairy terms for products derived from cellular agriculture. While supporting innovation, the IDF emphasizes the need for clear and accurate labeling to distinguish cellular agriculture products from milk and dairy products.
The position paper highlights that the Codex General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms (GSUDT), CXS 206-1999, applies to products derived from cellular agriculture, meaning that these cannot use dairy terms as per this definitive Codex Standard. The GSUDT defines milk as the normal mammary secretion of milking animals obtained from one or more milkings without either addition to it or extraction from it, intended for consumption as liquid milk or for further processing.
Why Protecting Dairy Terms is Necessary
- Preventing Consumer Confusion: Ensuring that products using dairy terms accurately reflect the presence of milk or milk products helps prevent consumer confusion.
- Supporting Fair Trade Practices: Preventing misleading labeling that could provide unfair advantages to non-dairy products that mimic milk or milk products support fair trade practices.
- Promoting Consistency: Promoting consistency across international markets regarding the labeling and marketing of cellular agriculture products fosters standardized practices that align with global regulatory frameworks.
- Bulletin of the IDF N° 507/2020: The Codex General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms – Its nature, intent, and implications
- Bulletin of the IDF N° 521/2022: Survey on the Implementation of the CAC General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms (GSUDT-Survey)
- IDF Position Paper: The Codex General Standard for the Use of Dairy Terms
- IDF Factsheet: The use of dairy terms for labeling and promotional information
“IDF supports food innovation while upholding the dairy terms outlined in the Codex GSUDT. IDF remains dedicated to promoting and protecting the GSUDT, acknowledging the unique character of milk,” said Laurence Rycken, IDF Director General.
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