(Consultation procedure)

The European Parliament ,

–   having regard to the Commission proposal to the Council (COM(2007)0058),

–   having regard to Article 37 of the EC Treaty, pursuant to which the Council consulted Parliament (C6-0085/2007),

–   having regard to Rule 51 of its Rules of Procedure,

–   having regard to the report of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (A6-0284/2007),

1.  Approves the Commission proposal as amended;

2.  Calls on the Commission to alter its proposal accordingly, pursuant to Article 250(2) of the EC Treaty;

3.  Calls on the Council to notify Parliament if it intends to depart from the text approved by Parliament;

4.  Asks the Council to consult Parliament again if it intends to amend the Commission proposal substantially;

5.  Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council and the Commission.

Text proposed by the Commission   Amendments by Parliament Amendment 1 RECITAL 4 (4)  In order to provide clarity for the consumers, such milk should however not be called whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk but have their fat content percentage clearly indicated on the packaging. (4)  In order to provide clarity for the consumers, such milk should however not be called whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk but the milk fat content percentage should be clearly indicated on the packaging directly next to the product description . Amendment 2 ARTICLE 1 Article 3, paragraph 1, subparagraph 2 (Regulation (EC) No 2597/97) "Heat-treated milk not complying with the fat content requirements laid down in points (b), (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph may be considered drinking milk provided that the fat content is clearly indicated and easily readable on the packaging in form of "fat content of ...%". Such milk shall not be described as whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk. Member States may allow producers to indicate the fat content in the form of "fat content of …% + 0.2%" ." "Heat-treated milk not complying with the fat content requirements laid down in points (b), (c) and (d) of the first subparagraph shall be considered drinking milk in accordance with the definitions in Directive 2000/13/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 March 2000 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to the labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs 1 provided that the fat content is clearly indicated, easily readable and directly next to the product description on the packaging in form of "milk ...% fat ". Such milk shall not be described as whole milk, semi-skimmed milk or skimmed milk. ______________ 1 OJ L 109, 6.5.2000, p. 29 . Directive as last amended by Commission Directive 2006/142/EC ( OJ L 368, 23.12.2006, p. 110). "