Sustainability criteria for Milk and dairy from cows | The National Agency for Public Procurement

Milk and dairy from cows
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	EU-organic product	Core	Technical specification
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 Parliament and of the Council on organic production and labelling of organic products.
	Organic product - addition milk	Advanced	Technical specification
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: All cattle involved in the production must spend time outdoors for at least two months longer than the grazing period of at least 60 days. Animals older than 6 months of age must spend time out at pasture for at least 12 hours per day during the grazing period as defined in the country of production. The animal keeper works in accordance with a preventative healthcare plan and veterinary inspection upon any sign of poor animal health. With the exception of vaccination, preventative treatment using medical preparations is not permitted. During surgical procedures, the animals must be given anaesthesia and analgesia.
	Information about the origin of the raw material - egg and milk	Core	Technical specification
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: The country in which the milk is collected from the animals The country in which the eggs are laid The country in which the eggs and/or milk are processed, where relevant.
	Surgical procedures under anaesthesia - beef and milk	Core	Technical specification
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.
	Surgical procedures with anaesthesia and analgesia - beef and milk	Advanced	Technical specification
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.
	Responsible use of antibiotics - meat and milk	Core	Technical specification
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.
	Health monitoring and preventive animal health care - milk	Core	Technical specification
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 number of animals that die in the herd, along with the reason for the deaths The number of animals treated for sicknesses, the preparations used and the reasons for treatment The number of cows and heifers that are inseminated, and the results from calving (number of stillbirths). 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: Hooves must be inspected and trimmed as needed
	Grazing - milk	Core	Technical specification
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.
	Reduced climate impact from production - beef and milk	Advanced	Technical specification
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: The amount of fossil energy used has been minimised by an energy survey has been conducted and a plan that includes measures for improving energy efficiency and replacing fossil energy sources with renewable ones has been developed and followedThe electricity used in production comes from 100% renewable sources of energy. The producer has carried out an analysis and calculated the climate impact of the production and implemented a consultation programme aiming to reduce the climate impact of production.
	Roughage for calves - beef and milk	Core	Technical specification
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.
	More sustainably produced soy in animal feed	Core	Technical specification
Criterion information The cultivation of soy can entail large environmental risks due to the high use of pesticides, soil erosion, along with the risk for land use change and deforestation in species-rich forest and grassland areas. Contracting organisations can specify requirements that improve the prerequisites for a transition to a more sustainable production of soy. Criterion text Animal-based foods shall come from animals where the soy¹, if included in the feed, is produced in such a way that, at a minimum, it covers the following: Implemented routines that ensure that the conversion to agricultural land does not result in deforestation or damage to areas of high conservation value. The evaluation of what is regarded as high conservation value can be undertaken in agreement with the High Conservation Value Approach², or a similar evaluation method relevant for the geographical area. The use of plant protection products shall be in accordance with the principles for Integrated Pest Management (IPM³). This involves preventing plant protection problems, monitoring the risk of damage in cultivations/fields, need-based measures, as well as following up and evaluating the effectiveness of pest control measures. It is adequate that the documentation of the traceability of the soy can be shown through a segregated supply chain (Identity Preserved or Segregated), or through the principle of mass balance, or through the principle for credits (Credits/Book and Claim).
	More sustainably produced palm oil in animal feed	Spearhead	Technical specification
Criterion information The large-scale production of palm oil can entail serious risks for both people and the environment, such as deforestation and decreased biodiversity. The criterium contributes to improving the conditions for a transition to a more sustainable cultivation of oil palm. Criterion text Animal-based foods shall be produced from animals where products from oil palm¹, if it forms part of the feed, is produced in such a way that, at a minimum, it covers the following: Implemented routines that ensure that the conversion to agricultural land does not result in deforestation or damage to areas of high conservation value. The evaluation of what is regarded as high conservation value can be undertaken in agreement with the High Conservation Value Approach², or a similar evaluation method relevant for the geographical area. The planting of oil palms on peatlands is prohibited as of November 2018. This applies to both existing and new plantations. The use of plant protection products shall be in accordance with the principles for Integrated Pest Management (IPM³). This involves preventing plant protection problems, monitoring the risk of damage in cultivations, need-based measures, as well as following up and evaluating the effectiveness of pest control measures. It is adequate that the documentation of the traceability for products from oil palms in the animal feed can be shown through a segregated supply chain (Identity Preserved or Segregated), or through the principle of Mass Balance, or through the principle for credits (Credits/Book and Claim).
	Feed without GMO-content	Spearhead	Technical specification
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.

Milk and dairy from cows

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