| Abstract: | Blends of Fats and Oils in International Food Legislation and the Influence of EEC Harmonisation on German Federal Law Blends of fats and oils are of particular interest in terms of food legislation when milk fat is incorporated. In contrast to the existing standards of the Codex Alimentarius, the national legislation of each EEC member state contains far-reaching restrictions on this point which, however, are being or have been given up under the influence of the Cassis de Dijon judgement of the European Court of Justice. In 1988 France was the first EEC country to change its laws, the Federal Republic of Germany followed suit in 1990. At EEC level, the umbrella organisations of the dairy industry and the margarine industry have put forward suggestions for structuring the market for yellow fat spreads, which is to form a basis for EC legislation. In anticipation of EF legislation of this kind, Germany now permits, by virtue of an Order concerning margarine and mixed fat products of 31.8.1990, the production of mixed fat products consisting of fats fit for human consumption and a proportion of milk fat. The total fat content of these products must be 20–62% or at least 80%. The milk fat content must be between 15 and 25%, 45 and 55%, or 65 and 75% of the total fat content, but must account for at least 8% of the product weight. |
