A tejhigiéniai szabályozás története Magyarországon

Abstract

SUMMARY In this study the authors present the regulation of milk hygiene in Hungary which has a more than 120-year-old history. The cornerstone of milk hygiene legislation was the act on the prohibition of counterfeiting of food items including milk products in 1895, than the related control provisions, which were constantly expanding with new aspects (physical, chemical and finally biological), and created together the regulation of the production, processing and distribution of milk and dairy products, in addition to animal health standards. Later, by creating a complex and unified food-chain control law, the previously established and controlled processes were generally drafted in one law following the path of milk from the farm to the table and protecting the consumers’ interest. Of course several, executive national regulations concerning milk hygiene were put in force in addition to the unified food act, all harmonized with European Union legislations. Summarily, the milk hygiene regulation has kept pace with the practical experiences and the results of scientific research, so this historical review demonstrates how the knowledge available to mankind, and the change of the market, the processing and the distribution of the dairy products affect the development of the milk sector. It can be stated that the current Hungarian milk hygiene regulation covers the entire food chain including the milk production, processing, distribution and consumption, and seems to be able to identify and handle the sources of potential hazards quickly and accurately