Il "Milk in schools" program has a long history. It stems from the European Union's desire to promote the consumption of this food that is considered essential for growth from a sector that is always struggling with production surpluses.
School milk (School milk scheme, in SMS) has its twin in "Fruit and vegetables in schools" (School fruit and vegetables scheme, Sfvs).
Both have been developed with the CAP, the common agricultural policy but have a completely different history. Milk in schools dates back to the years when the EEC was still with the creation of the Common Market Organization (OCM) in the milk sector, in the 1968, and it was implemented by the 1977; while "Fruit in schools" was started in the 2009. Both programs have as objectives the protection of public health through nutrition as defined at European level by the EEC, 2007 and EU regulations, 2014. The aid provided for the two programs is currently provided by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (Feaga), as part of the market interventions related to the OCM unica1.
There is no obligation. For Milk in schools, member states adhere to the two programs on a voluntary basis, after having decided on their own national or regional strategy for their implementation. Thus, the states finance or co-finance the distribution in schools of both milk, milk-based drinks, cheeses, yoghurts and fermented milk products, and fresh and processed fruit and vegetables. "Fruit in schools", in particular, proposes, also through ancillary measures and recreational-educational activities, to contribute to improving the knowledge of the youngest of agriculture and its products.
It can be said that almost all European children have consumed milk or dairy products at school thanks to this program. To give an order of magnitude, since 2009, more than 20 millions of European children and teenagers have benefited from the "Milk in schools" program of these, over a third are primary school pupils. The products distributed concern, above all, milk, flavored milk, fermented milk-based products and cheeses (equivalent to more than 350.000 tons of milk)
Although there is no obligation for member states to contribute to funding, the 45% of these have added public or private funds for the execution of the program (for an average value of around 44 million euros / year). The total EU funding provided by the Feaga is, on average, around 66 million per year. For the "Milk in schools" program, the various models of implementation between member states range from the provision of aid for the distribution of dairy products. dairy products included in the meals of the canteens, with the distribution of portions of cheese or yogurt as a dessert, parmesan cheese on a pasta dish to the mozzarella with salad or with the installation of self-service milk dispensers; but there is also the sale at reduced price of milk outside the canteens, or the free distribution of milk outside the canteens.
Italy, which only benefits from EU funds, distributes an average value of 2,2 million euros a year, just below the EU average (equal to 2,6 million euros a year).
In Italy, the "Milk in Schools" Program is managed by the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, University and Research, with the Ministry of Health, with the Agency for disbursements in agriculture, with the Regions and autonomous Provinces, with the Chambers of Commerce and with the mayors of the Municipalities involved, involving 1,4 every year, on average, millions of elementary school children.
