COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No  2721/95 of 24 November 1995 establishing rules for the application of reference and routine methods  for the analysis and quality evaluation of milk and milk products under the common market  organization
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 804/68 of 27 June 1968 on the common organization of  the market in milk and milk products  (1), as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1538/95  (2), and  in particular Articles 6 (6), 7 (5), 8 (4), 9 (3), 10 (3), 11 (3), 12 (3), 13 (3), 16 (1) and (4)  and 17 (14) thereof,
Whereas the composition and quality characteristics of milk and milk products laid down in  regulations under the common market organization in milk and milk products have to be verified to  ensure strict compliance with those requirements;
Whereas it is frequently provided provided that the reference methods for such verifications are  methods published by international organisations such as IDF, ISO and AOAC International, which are  regularly updated by those organizations; whereas, in certain cases a Community reference method is  laid down which is subsequently replaced by a method published by an international organization;  whereas, in other cases, no reference method is specified in the Community regulation; whereas in  order to ensure uniformity in the application of reference methods, it is appropriate to draw up  each year a list of reference methods, and to specify that the method applicable is that referred  to in such list;
Whereas the use of routine methods should not be excluded; whereas the conditions for their  application should be specified;
Whereas the Management Committee for Milk and Milk Products has not delivered an opinion within the  time limit set by its chairman,
This Regulation lays down rules for the application of methods for  the chemical, physical and microbiological analysis of milk and milk products provided for in  Community Regulations relating to the common organization of the market in milk and milk products  (hereafter referred to as 'the Regulations`).
1.  The Commission shall, in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 30 of  Regulation (EEC) No 804/68, draw up before 1 April in each year a list of the reference methods  applicable to the analyses referred to in Article 1. However, the first list shall be drawn up  within six months of the entry into force of this Regulation.
2.  Where no reference method is specified in the Regulations, or where the reference method  specified differs from that set out in the list provided for in paragraph 1, the reference method  specified in the list shall be applied.
Routine methods may be used for analyses required by the Regulations provided that they  are properly calibrated and regularly checked against the reference method.
In cases of dispute, the results obtained by the reference method are decisive.
The laboratory report of the results of the analysis must contain sufficient elements  to enable an evaluation of the results to be made.
This Regulation shall enter into force six months following  the date of its  publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all  Member States.