HIGH-QUALITY MILK - REGULATION ASPECTS AND PRODUCTION CAPACITY

The recent law No. 169/89 on fluid milk ''Regulations for the processing and marketing of the alimentary cow milk'' and the issue of the relevant enforcing decrees complete the legislative framework on this subject. A noteworthy aspect is that Italian milk has been given the possibility of entering the high-quality production processes. Each individual feature and health-requirement provided for by the law in order to produce fresh high-quality pasteurized milk, has been analysed so as to define the difficulties and to locate those sectors of the producing firms where actions can be carried out. It is self-evident that where the breeders have been implementing long term programs to improve milk quality, the production capacity of high-quality milk turns out to be higher. It underscores the need for Italian breeders to make an effort aiming particularly at improving healthy production conditions; quality shall not just involve the classic milk constituents (fat and proteins), but above all the health of the milk cows and of the breeding farms they belong to.