DairyCo

EU School Milk Subsidy

Published 29 December 11

The European Union Milk Subsidy aims to encourage consumption of milk products by making them available in schools at a reduced cost to pupils

Eligible recipients are pupils regularly attending pre-school, nursery, primary or secondary school. Milk and milk products may be distributed to pupils as a midmorning or afternoon drink, as part of a meal or on breakfast cereal, but milk cannot be used in the preparation of meals. Milk distributed to pupils at holiday camps is not eligible for subsidy.

The following products from Cows, Goats and Sheep are eligible for Subsidy

• Plain whole and semi-skimmed milk
• Flavoured whole and semi-skimmed milk, containing at least 90% milk by weight (Primary and Secondary schools only
• Plain whole and semi-skimmed milk yoghurt (Primary and Secondary only)

Products must be produced in the EC and must be heat-treated. Lactose-reduced milk, UHT and fluoridated milk are eligible, but if fluoride is added, it must be no more than 5 mg per kilogram. Skimmed milk products are not eligible. Subsidy is paid on the actual quantity supplied, up to 250ml per pupil per day.

Products the scheme does not cover

The scheme does not cover:

• milk other than from cows, goats or sheep (such as soya or rice milk)
• powdered or reconstituted milk
• products used as ingredients in the preparation of meals (i.e. where milk has lost its identity, such as in custard, mashed potato or rice puddings;
• products that have been consumed by staff or visitors;
• products that have been produced outside the EU;
• products that have been consumed on non-educational days (for example Sundays for boarding school pupils)

Nurseries and other pre-school establishments claim the subsidy through their nursery milk claim. www.nurserymilk.co.uk  Maintained and self-organising schools should contact their Local Authority. If they do not run the scheme, it might be possible to claim subsidy direct through a milk supplier or through an organisation set up specifically to claim the subsidy on behalf of schools. The current aid rates can be found on the RPA website

 If schools have difficulty claiming through an existing claimant, they should contact the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) for advice.

 Further details about the School Milk subsidy scheme can be found here