Milk and dairy
In Sweden, about 375 kg of milk and dairy products were consumed per person in 2018. 72 percent of this amount was produced in Sweden. The proportion of Swedish dairy products in this consumption has seen an overall decrease since 1995. Imports come mainly from Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Germany. Import statistics for dairy products should be interpreted with caution, since the country of origin for the milk used may differ from the country the products are imported from. Some of Sweden's imports are also resold to other countries, which means that some of the products imported are not consumed in Sweden.In 2018, the proportion of organic products in Sweden's production was almost 19 percent of drinking milk, 12 percent of fermented dairy products, 6 percent of cream and 2 percent of cheese.
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| Information about the origin of the raw material - egg and milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Transparency and traceability in the food chain are important in order to be able to check sustainability parameters in the supply chain. By requiring that information about the origin of the raw-material is to be available and controllable, the procuring organization assures that traceability in the food chain is possible. Criterion text For products made from eggs and/or milk, information must be provided about the country of origin of the raw material, and it must be available to check when a tender is submitted. This information must also be made available or provided on request throughout the term of the contract.The information must include:
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| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliment and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | |||||
| Grazing - milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Keeping animals on pasture is good for animal health and allows them plenty of opportunity to behave naturally. Well-managed grassland farming is also a resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable way to raise cattle. Grazing can be done on grassy fields or land that is less suitable for growing grain and legumes etc. Contracting organisations that set requirements for grassland farming also contribute to grazing that can have positive effects on biodiversity. Criterion text Products made from milk must be derived from animals that are kept on pasture for at least 60 days during the grazing season, as defined in the country of production. Animals are considered to be kept grazing for one day if they spend time outside for a continuous period of at least six hours per day on land containing plants that can be grazed by the animals at such quantity and quality that it is possible for the animals to be able to graze naturally simultaneously. | |||||
| Surgical procedures under anaesthesia - beef and milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Cattle are dehorned to keep the animals from injuring one another, or because the horns pose a danger to farm workers. Without anaesthesia, surgical procedures such as castration, dehorning and disbudding by cauterisation cause both pain and stress for the cattle, regardless of the age of the animal. Contracting authorities can contribute to ensuring that surgical procedures are carried out with less pain for the animals by requiring anaesthesia. Criterion text Beef and/or milk products must be derived from animals that have been anaesthetised during any and all surgical procedures, including castration, dehorning or disbudding by cauterisation. Dehorning by caustic paste, and castration by rubber ring are not permitted. | |||||
| Responsible use of antibiotics - meat and milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information High and improper use of antibiotics in animal husbandry is associated with an increased prevalence of resistant bacteria.1 Increased antibiotics resistance constitutes a public health threat worldwide, and is an important sustainability challenge.2 Contracting authorities that set criteria regarding the responsible use of antibiotics can contribute to antibiotics being used only when necessary for the sake of an animal's health. Criterion text Animal food products must be derived from animal production where antibiotics are not used for the purpose of promoting growth or routinely as a preventative measure. Antibiotics may be given only to sick animals or as prescribed by a veterinarian to animals in groups in which disease has broken out, after a diagnosis of clinical disease in part of the group has been established. The total number of medical treatments must be documented along with the reasons for treatment and medical preparations used. 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones may be used only when microbiological examination and antimicrobial susceptibility tests show that there are no effective alternatives.
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| Health monitoring and preventive animal health care - milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Healthy animals are crucial to animal welfare and food safety. Continual monitoring of health parameters enables deviations to be quickly detected, laying the foundation for the prevention of sicknesses in the animals. Contracting organisations that set requirements for health monitoring encourage preventative animal health care and healthy animals. Criterion text Milk must be sourced from dairy farms that continually document important parameters in connection with the animals' health and that implement preventative measures for hoof health. The following health parameters must be documented on an ongoing basis:
The parameters must be able to be monitored over time to allow corrective measures to be taken as needed. The following preventative measures must be implemented:
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| Roughage for calves - beef and milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Providing calves with roughage from a young age promotes a healthy development of rumination and reduces the risk of illnesses caused by deficiencies. High-quality roughage is also positive from an environmental perspective. Contracting authorities that set criteria regarding roughage for calves contribute to good animal health and environmental benefits in farming. Criterion text Beef and/or milk products must be derived from production where calves have free access to roughage from no later than two weeks of age. | |||||
| Responsibly produced soy | Advanced | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information A large percentage of the soy used in European feed production comes from South America. The cultivation of soy has far-reaching negative consequences on the environment and human health due to high pesticide use, risk of establishment of new croplands in species-rich forest and savannah areas, soil erosion and the working conditions for labourers and the surrounding community. Procuring authorities may request that soy included in feed be cultivated in a responsible manner. Criterion text Soy used as feed must be traceable through a segregated supply chain or covered by a certificate that ensures compliance with the following:
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| Organic product - addition milk | Advanced | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information In organic production feed must be largely produced on the farm itself, be free from GMOs and must be grown without the use of unnatural chemical pesticides and mineral fertilisers. Contracting authorities that set the sustainability requirement at the advanced level for organic product also contribute to the implementation of extra measures for improving animal welfare and environmental sustainability, such as longer grazing period. Criterion text Products of milk must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliment and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products, as well as the following requirements:
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| Surgical procedures with anaesthesia and analgesia - beef and milk | Advanced | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information In addition to anaesthesia given during surgical procedures on cattle such as castration, dehorning and disbudding by cauterisation, analgesia has been shown to reduce the animal’s pain-related behaviour during dehorning and castration. By setting criteria that analgesia must be administered in addition to anaesthesia, contracting authorities can contribute to surgical procedures being carried out with less stress and pain for the animals. Criterion text Beef and/or milk products must be derived from animals that have been anaesthetised during surgical procedures, including castration, dehorning or disbudding by cauterisation. Dehorning by caustic paste, and castration by rubber ring are not permitted. In addition to anaesthesia, analgesia (NSAIDs) must be administered during any and all surgical procedures. | |||||
| Reduced climate impact from production - beef and milk | Advanced | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Producing beef and milk can generate a considerable amount of greenhouse gas emissions through the animals' digestive process, the production of animal feed, fertilisers, and the conversion of natural land into farmland for grazing and fodder production. There are several ways to reduce the climate impact of beef and milk production, such as improving energy efficiency, the use of renewable energy and feed analysis. Contracting authorities that set criteria for reducing the climate impact of beef production can contribute to beef and milk being produced with less of an impact on the climate. Criterion text Beef and/or milk products must be derived from production where measures have been taken to reduce the climate impact. At least one of the following measures must have been implemented:
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| Feed without GMO-content | Spearhead | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Purchasing organisations that wish to contribute to restriction of the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture can require animals to be fed feed that does not contain GMOs. Criterion text Products of animal origin shall come from animals that have not eaten feed consisting of, containing or produced from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) during the rearing period. Traces of permitted GMOs1 may only be present in a proportion not exceeding 0.9 per cent for each individual raw material, provided that the presence is unintentional or technically unavoidable. | |||||
| Products of oil palm in animal feed | Spearhead | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from cows | ||
Criterion information Palm oil and its by-products are amongst the most important commercial products in the world and are used in a great variety of products, including animal feed. The production of palm oil has been connected with deforestation, increased carbon dioxide emissions and negative effects on the ecosystems of sensitive areas.1Contracting authorities that require the fats of palm origin used in animal feed to be covered by sustainability credits2 help to ensure an increased proportion of sustainable palm oil production. Criterion text Food products of animal origin must be derived from production where products or by-products from the oil palm , if it is used in animal feed, is 100% certified as sustainable or is 100% compensated by sustainability credits. | |||||
| Surgical procedures under anaesthesia – meat and milk from lamb, sheep and goat | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from sheep and goats | ||
Criterion information Castration of male lambs can be done to prevent unwanted mating when the lambs have reached sexual maturity, amongst other things. Goats may be dehorned to prevent them from harming each other. Without anaesthesia, such surgical procedures cause both pain and stress for the animals, regardless of their age. Contracting organisations can contribute to ensuring that surgical procedures are carried out with less pain and stress for the animals by requiring the use of anaesthesia. Criterion text Meat and milk products must be derived from animals that have been anaesthetised during any and all surgical procedures, including castration and dehorning. Dehorning by caustic paste, and castration by rubber ring are not permitted. | |||||
| Grazing and outdoor access - meat and milk from lamb, sheep and goat | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from sheep and goats | ||
Criterion information Allowing animals to graze and spend time outside is positive for their health and gives the animals good opportunities to behave naturally. Well-managed grazing is also a resource-efficient and environmentally sustainable way of raising animals because it reduces the need for other feed. Animals can graze in grasslands, fields, or land that cannot be used for producing other types of food. Contracting authorities that set requirements for grassland farming and/or time spent in the open air also contribute to grazing that can have positive effects on biological diversity. Criterion text Meat and milk products must be derived from animals that have been able to graze or otherwise have access to the outdoors for a continuous period of at least two months per year during the grazing season as defined in the country of production. | |||||
| Responsible use of antibiotics - meat and milk | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from sheep and goats | ||
Criterion information High and improper use of antibiotics in animal husbandry is associated with an increased prevalence of resistant bacteria.1 Increased antibiotics resistance constitutes a public health threat worldwide, and is an important sustainability challenge.2 Contracting authorities that set criteria regarding the responsible use of antibiotics can contribute to antibiotics being used only when necessary for the sake of an animal's health. Criterion text Animal food products must be derived from animal production where antibiotics are not used for the purpose of promoting growth or routinely as a preventative measure. Antibiotics may be given only to sick animals or as prescribed by a veterinarian to animals in groups in which disease has broken out, after a diagnosis of clinical disease in part of the group has been established. The total number of medical treatments must be documented along with the reasons for treatment and medical preparations used. 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones may be used only when microbiological examination and antimicrobial susceptibility tests show that there are no effective alternatives.
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| EU-organic product | Core | Technical specification | Milk and dairy from sheep and goats | ||
Criterion information Organic production promotes sustainable agriculture. Organic farming should respect nature's ecosystems and different natural cycles, and strive to maintain and improve the quality of soil, water, plant health and the health of animals. The balance between all elements is to be maintained and preferably improved. Criterion text Food products must be produced in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliment and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products. | |||||
In Sweden, about 375 kg of milk and dairy products were consumed per person in 2018. 72 percent of this amount was produced in Sweden. The proportion of Swedish dairy products in this consumption has seen an overall decrease since 1995. Imports come mainly from Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands and Germany. Import statistics for dairy products should be interpreted with caution, since the country of origin for the milk used may differ from the country the products are imported from. Some of Sweden's imports are also resold to other countries, which means that some of the products imported are not consumed in Sweden.In 2018, the proportion of organic products in Sweden's production was almost 19 percent of drinking milk, 12 percent of fermented dairy products, 6 percent of cream and 2 percent of cheese.
The environmental impact from production of milk and dairy products varies depending on the type of product as well as how and where the production takes place. Procuring organisations that use sustainability criteria when procuring milk and dairy products can contribute to a more environmentally sustainable production with lower climate impact and good animal welfare.
The product group contains criteria that among other things contribute to Sweden’s environmental objectives regarding Non-Toxic Environment, A Rich Diversity of Plant and Animal Life, A Varied Agricultural Landscape and Reduced Climate Impact as well as the Sustainable Development Goals of Agenda 2030; goal 2 Zero hunger, goal 3 Good Health and Well-being, goal 12 Sustainable Consumption and Production, goal 13 Climate Action and goal 14 Life on Land.
Climate impact from the production of animal foods mainly comes from the production of feed, animals’ digestions process (of ruminant animals such as cattle, sheep and goats), manure and conversion of natural lands for grazing and feed production purposes. Emissions of greenhouse gases in the production of milk and milk products varies between 0.9 and 15 carbon dioxide equivalents per kg, depending on the type of product, production method and origin. In Sweden, the production of cow's milk is strongly linked with beef production; approximately 60 percent of beef comes from dairy herds.The proportion of roughage and the use of soya and oil palm are some of the important sustainability parameters in animal feed. Soy and biproducts of the oil palm used for feed can be produced in a more sustainable way, for example that the cultivation is not made in areas with high conservation values.
Grazing ruminants keep the landscape open and contribute to several ecosystem services. Properly adapted grazing is important for conserving and managing biodiversity.[4] Grasses and other plants used in crop rotation on arable land are an important source of fodder for ruminants and contribute positively to the cultivation system by, for example, reducing the need for pesticides and improving soil fertility as well as carbon storage and sequestration.[5] Having animals spend time in the open air also allows them to express behaviour that is important for their well-being.
The widespread use of antibiotics around the world for both humans and animals has led to a rise in antibiotics-resistant bacteria in our surroundings. Together with Norway and Iceland, Sweden has the lowest use of antibiotics for farm animals in Europe. Preventive measures for good animal health and welfare help to keep the use of antibiotics at a minimum. Animal welfare can be defined in several different ways. EU animal welfare legislation that treats animals as sentient beings is based on five freedoms that animals should be able to enjoy: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, and freedom from fear and distress.[8] Treating the animals as sentient beings involves minimising their pain, for example by using effective anaesthesia in stressing and painful situations, including during surgical procedures and before slaughter. Time spent in the open air also gives the animals greater opportunity to express behaviour that is important for their well-being.