Today, The Official Journal of the European Union published European Commission’s Decision 2011/899/EU, dated December 21, 2011, concerning the extension of the deadline for derogation of the Bulgarian farms, the Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture and Foods announced.
The deadline for farmers producing non-compliant raw caw’s milk for processing has been extended until December 31, 2012.
The proportion of raw milk that complies with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No 853/2004, delivered to milk-processing establishments in Bulgaria, has considerably increased. Bulgaria has also established an action plan aimed at covering the entire production chain of milk in that Member State ensuring compliance with the EU rules, the decision states.
Our country should continue to monitor the situation and submit to the Commission regular reports on progress towards full compliance with those requirements. Based on the conclusions of those reports, appropriate measures should be taken. Annex to the Decision was published a list of dairies, which are allowed to process non-EU criteria cow's milk.