First introduced in 1977, the SMS was reformed in 2008 – and the budget spent for the 2010/11 school year was about € 64 million. The evaluation will examine the effects and EU value added of the implementation of the SMS, in particular the stimulation of milk consumption by young people, and its educational purpose (promoting healthy eating habits among children). The evaluation will also analyse the coherence of the implementation of the School Milk Scheme with the School Fruit Scheme, information and promotion measures, and with EU health-related policies, notably with the Strategy for Europe on nutrition, overweight and obesity (2007-2013).
The evaluation will cover the period since 1 August 2008 when Commission Regulation (EC) No 657/2008 entered into force. The deadline for submitting offers is 10 September 2012, and the Commission intends to award the contract by the end of 2012. The contractor will have to carry out the study within 9 months from the signature of the contract.
Details are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/calls-for-tender/2012-229496_en.htm
