FENIL: Final judgment dismissing the action brought by the association of dairy producers

Madrid, 27 June 2014.

Provincial Court of Madrid has definitively rejected the legal action brought by the National Federation of Dairy Industry (FENIL) after the 2011 OCU study about milk quality.
This decision of the Court, once the appeal period has expired, throws out once and for all the lawsuit filed by the dairy association which claimed, in their view, that OCU intentionally attempted to discredit the image of the sector with its comparative analysis of milk.
After three years of litigation the Court of Madrid has confirmed the veracity of the claims of OCU and rigour and diligence employed in carrying out the study. The high court recognises the work of OCU through making "Statements that fall within the informational purpose which OCU meets (the right to freedom of information) of clear general interest and which are truthful in being based on studies made  by sound, recognised laboratories." Which amounts to, once again, full support for the activities of the organisation.
This work, recognised the courts, could be severely hampered if the regulations concerning comparative analyses are approved in their present form. Draft regulations from the Government, under pressure from the food industry, seek to hinder and eliminate the existence of objective, independent comparative analyses which ensure the right of consumers to such information.
For more information (media) Eva Jimenez Tel:   917 226 061
prensa@ocu.org