Answer given by Mr Wojciechowski on behalf of the European Commission
11.8.2022
The Commission is aware of the campaign referred to by the Honourable Member.
As indicated in the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission is carrying out a review of the EU school scheme to enhance its contribution to sustainable food consumption and in particular to strengthen educational messages on the importance of healthy nutrition, sustainable food production and reducing food waste.
In that context, the Commission is conscious of the differences in the nutritional and sustainability properties of plant-based drinks compared to milk.
These will be taken into account in the impact assessment that will precede the adoption of a Commission proposal for the review of the EU School Scheme by the end of 2023.
At this stage of the process, the Commission is gathering evidence and stakeholder feedback by means of an online open public consultation[1], running until 28 July 2022.
The results of this public consultation, together with possible policy options, will be presented at a conference in November 2022, where the European Parliament and relevant stakeholders will be invited to participate. The scope of eligible products will be one of the elements of discussion.
The legal basis for the EU School Scheme being Regulation (EU) 1308/2013, it will be ultimately for the European Parliament and the Council to decide on the different attributes of the Scheme, including the types of eligible products.
- [1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12970-Review-of-the-EU-school-fruit-vegetables-and-milk-scheme-/public-consultation_en