Yoghurt and other fermented or acidified milk and cream

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR governs foreground data packages for yoghurt and other milk or cream products whose defining transformation is microbial fermentation, direct acidification, or both. It covers plain, flavoured, fruited, concentrated, heat-treated-after-fermentation, drinkable, spoonable, and other market forms when the product remains a fermented or acidified dairy product. It also covers fermented and acidified cream.

The PCR does not cover unfermented drinking milk, cheese, butter and anhydrous milk fat, dried whey ingredients, frozen dairy desserts, plant-based analogues, or products in which the dairy portion no longer defines the product. Raw-milk farming and transport to the dairy are upstream rather than foreground processes. Distribution, retail, consumer refrigeration or use, and end-of-life are outside the core factory-gate foreground package unless a declared study expands the boundary.

The canonical foreground result is un-packaged product at the manufacturing facility cold-storage or dispatch gate. Product formulation, species, fat and dry-matter content, microbial or direct-acidification route, post-fermentation heat treatment, concentration, flavouring, packaging status, geography, and reference period are mandatory qualifiers.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.food-products-beverages-and-tobacco-textiles-apparel-and-leather-products.dairy-products-and-egg-products.yoghurt-and-other-fermented-or-acidified-milk-and-cream
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 22230 (exact mapping context; acceptance is governed separately)
covered_products	Yoghurt; alternate-culture yoghurt; fermented milk; concentrated fermented milk; fermented-milk drinks; flavoured or fruited fermented milk; heat-treated fermented milk; fermented cream; acidified milk; acidified cream
excluded_products	Unfermented liquid milk; cheese; butter and anhydrous milk fat; dried whey products; ice cream and frozen dairy desserts; non-dairy analogues; farm-gate raw milk
representative_product	Refrigerated spoonable fermented milk or yoghurt, standardized, cultured, plain or flavoured, at the dairy dispatch gate
production_route	Chilled dairy ingredient receipt; standardization and optional homogenization; heat treatment; inoculation and fermentation or controlled direct acidification; optional concentration, blending, or post-fermentation heat treatment; cooling; filling or bulk dispatch; cold storage
market_state	Chilled liquid, semi-liquid, gelled, or concentrated dairy product; packaged or bulk as declared

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Fermented or acidified milk or cream fit for its declared food use
How much	1 kg net product, excluding packaging
How well	Conforming to the declared product identity, formulation, fat and dry-matter content, treatment route, applicable food-safety requirements, and shelf-life specification
How long or cycle	One production batch through release at the manufacturing facility cold-storage or dispatch gate; declared shelf-life and storage temperature are metadata qualifiers
reference_flow_link	fermented_dairy_product_output

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg
Reference product flow	Fermented Dairy Products 62cf4ac0-49ff-484a-9d1e-73e6df7f7743
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	product designation; animal species; plain/flavoured/fruited; milk-fat and dry-matter content; spoonable/liquid/concentrated state; fermentation culture or acidification route; heat treatment before and after acidification; packaging status; storage temperature; geography; reference period

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_net_mass	reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Normalize all foreground inventory to 1 kg net fermented or acidified dairy product. Packaging mass is excluded from the reference amount and recorded separately.
wet_and_dry_matter	dairy inputs, product, and dairy co-products	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg wet mass and kg dry matter	Record wet mass and measured dry-matter fraction separately; never substitute volume for mass without a product- and temperature-specific density record.
energy_carriers_separate	facility energy	Energy	kWh and MJ	Preserve electricity in kWh and fuels or purchased thermal energy in MJ by carrier; document conversion factors and do not add them before conversion to a common energy unit.
water_volume_consistent	process and cleaning water	Volume	L or m3	Record metered water volume and use 1 m3 = 1,000 L. Do not infer wastewater volume from water input when evaporation, product incorporation, or reuse is material.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Chilled dairy ingredients and other formulation inputs accepted at the manufacturing facility, with supplier identity, quantity, composition, temperature, and upstream dataset links declared
starting_condition_role	factory-gate foreground input
product_classification_scope	Fermented or acidified milk and cream products defined by product identity and route; CPC 3.0 code 22230 is classification context only
recursive_input_rule	A purchased fermented or acidified milk or cream input remains a visible product input with quantity and upstream dataset reference; do not recursively re-model it as if produced by the receiving facility
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link raw milk, cream, milk powders, other dairy ingredients, non-dairy ingredients, energy carriers, water supply, packaging, chemicals, and transport added by the declared scope to geographically and temporally appropriate upstream datasets
disclosure	Declare species, formulation, starting ingredient state, fermentation or acidification route, heat treatments, concentration, packaging inclusion, cold-storage endpoint, geography, reference period, excluded stages, and any proxy datasets

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_factory_gate	core foreground package	Include receipt and storage, standardization, heat treatment and homogenization when used, fermentation or direct acidification, concentration or blending when used, cooling, filling or bulk dispatch, on-site cold storage, sanitation, direct emissions, product losses, waste, and wastewater up to the manufacturing dispatch gate.	ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007; dairy-pefcr-2025
boundary_upstream_links	purchased inputs	Keep farming, raw-milk collection, inbound transport, ingredient manufacture, energy supply, packaging manufacture, and chemical manufacture outside the foreground operation but link them through explicit upstream datasets when included in study scope.	ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007; dairy-pefcr-2025
boundary_route_disclosure	product identity	Distinguish microbial fermentation, direct acidification, combined routes, and post-fermentation heat treatment because these routes change required inputs, product claims, and storage conditions.	codex-fermented-milks-243; codex-cream-288; ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111
boundary_optional_downstream	expanded studies	Distribution, retail, consumer refrigeration and use, food loss, and packaging end-of-life may be appended only as separately declared downstream modules and shall not be folded into the factory-gate foreground result.	dairy-pefcr-2025

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
dairy_preparation	Dairy receipt, standardization, and heat preparation	required	Always included	foreground production	kg prepared dairy mix
fermentation_or_acidification	Fermentation or controlled acidification	required	At least one declared route must be active	foreground transformation	kg treated bulk product
finishing_and_cold_storage	Conditioning, filling, and cold storage	required	Always included; packaging rows apply only when packaging is in scope	foreground finishing and storage	1 kg released net product
sanitation_and_wastewater	Cleaning, product-loss control, and wastewater handling	required	Always included	foreground support and emissions control	allocated activity per 1 kg released net product

Process: Dairy receipt, standardization, and heat preparation (dairy_preparation)

Inputs

Product flows

Dairy base ingredients (dairy_base_ingredients)

Record milk, cream, skimmed milk, milk powder, whey-derived dairy ingredients, and other dairy materials that physically enter the product formulation. Keep each supplier ingredient separately identifiable.

• Selected flow: Declared dairy ingredient
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured accepted wet mass by ingredient and batch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_materials
• Sources: codex-fermented-milks-243; codex-cream-288; dairy-pefcr-2025

Non-dairy formulation ingredients (non_dairy_ingredients)

Record sugar, fruit preparations, flavours, stabilizers, salts, potable formulation water, and other permitted non-dairy ingredients separately when used.

• Selected flow: Declared non-dairy ingredient
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured batch issue or dosing record by ingredient
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_materials
• Sources: codex-fermented-milks-243; dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Codex compositional ceiling for flavoured fermented milk
  • Range role: Allowed range (allowed_range)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.50
  • Unit: kg/kg product
  • Basis: non-dairy ingredient mass fraction of flavoured fermented milk
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: External source (external_source)
  • Sources: codex-fermented-milks-243

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Prepared dairy mix (prepared_dairy_mix)

The prepared mix is the measured intermediate after standardization, optional homogenization, and the declared heat treatment.

• Selected flow: Prepared dairy mix
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: calculated from measured ingredient inputs, transfers, and preparation losses
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_batch_materials
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Prepared-mix mass-balance screening range
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0.80
  • Upper: 1.10
  • Unit: kg/kg released net product
  • Basis: transferred prepared mix before fermentation or direct acidification
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Process: Fermentation or controlled acidification (fermentation_or_acidification)

Inputs

Product flows

Prepared dairy mix input (prepared_mix_input)

Record the transferred prepared dairy mix entering the fermentation or acidification vessel.

• Selected flow: Prepared dairy mix
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass or calculated mass from calibrated vessel volume and product-specific density
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_route_operation
• Sources: codex-fermented-milks-243; ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111

Starter culture (starter_culture)

Record the identity and amount of each starter or other microorganism when microbial fermentation is used. Do not create this row for a direct-acidification-only product without culture.

• Selected flow: Declared starter culture
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured or supplier-certified culture dose
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_route_operation
• Sources: codex-fermented-milks-243; codex-cream-288

Acidifying ingredient (acidifying_ingredient)

Record acid or acidity regulator identity and dose when direct acidification is used. Do not infer a chemical acid input for products acidified solely by microbial fermentation.

• Selected flow: Declared food-grade acidifying ingredient
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dosing record by substance
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_route_operation
• Sources: codex-cream-288; ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Fermented or acidified bulk product (treated_bulk_product)

Record the mass transferred after the declared endpoint pH or acidity, including any concentration, post-fermentation heat treatment, or blending that occurs before filling.

• Selected flow: Fermented or acidified bulk dairy product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass reconciled to vessel and batch records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_route_operation
• Sources: codex-fermented-milks-243; codex-cream-288; ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Process: Conditioning, filling, and cold storage (finishing_and_cold_storage)

Inputs

Product flows

Treated bulk product input (treated_bulk_input)

Record bulk product received from fermentation or acidification and reconcile it to filling or bulk dispatch.

• Selected flow: Fermented or acidified bulk dairy product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transfer mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_output_and_losses
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025

Primary and secondary packaging (packaging_materials)

Record packaging by material and component when packaging is within the declared scope. For the canonical unpackaged reference, report packaging separately and do not add it to the 1 kg product amount.

• Selected flow: Declared packaging material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchased or issued packaging mass minus verified stock change, normalized by packed net product
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg packaged net product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025

Facility electricity (facility_electricity)

Collect metered electricity for preparation, fermentation or acidification, pumping, filling, refrigeration, storage, sanitation, and allocated support operations without double counting submetered loads.

• Selected flow: Electricity, declared supply mix
• Flow property / unit: Energy / kWh
• Amount rule: metered purchased plus on-site electricity consumed, net of exported electricity
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_facility_utilities
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Facility thermal energy (facility_thermal_energy)

Collect fuel and purchased heat by carrier for heat treatment, hot water, sanitation, and allocated support operations.

• Selected flow: Declared fuel or purchased thermal energy
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered or invoiced lower-heating-value energy by carrier, with conversion documented
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_facility_utilities
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Waste flows

Packaging scrap (packaging_scrap)

Record rejected containers, lids, labels, cartons, and films by material and treatment route.

• Selected flow: Packaging waste, declared material
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured scrap or packaging mass balance
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg packaged net product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_packaging_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025
• Range: Provisional packaging-scrap screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.10
  • Unit: kg/kg packaging issued
  • Basis: packaging scrap fraction before dispatch
  • Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Refrigerant losses to air (refrigerant_loss_air)

Record refrigerant substance and annual leakage from systems serving the foreground facility.

• Selected flow: Declared refrigerant emission to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: annual refrigerant additions plus opening charge minus closing charge and recovered quantity, allocated to product
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_facility_utilities
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025

Outputs

Product flows

Released fermented dairy product (fermented_dairy_product_output)

This is the declared reference product after quality release at the facility cold-storage or dispatch gate.

• Selected flow: Fermented Dairy Products 62cf4ac0-49ff-484a-9d1e-73e6df7f7743
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: fixed reference amount of released net product
• Value mode: Fixed value (fixed_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Identity reference (identity_reference)
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025

Waste flows

Off-specification product and process losses (off_spec_product)

Record spills, start-up and changeover losses, rejected product, and expired on-site stock separately from wastewater whenever they can be recovered or treated as a material stream.

• Selected flow: Off-specification fermented dairy product
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured loss, reject, and recovery records
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_output_and_losses
• Sources: ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007
• Range: Provisional product-loss screening estimate
  • Range role: QA guardrail (qa_guardrail)
  • Lower: 0
  • Upper: 0.10
  • Unit: kg/kg released net product
  • Basis: all foreground product losses before dispatch
  • Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
  • Evidence kind: Reasoned estimate (reasoned_estimate)

Elementary flows

Process: Cleaning, product-loss control, and wastewater handling (sanitation_and_wastewater)

Inputs

Product flows

Process and cleaning water (process_cleaning_water)

Record make-up water for formulation, rinsing, cleaning-in-place, manual cleaning, cooling systems, and other foreground uses, net of internally reused water where measured.

• Selected flow: Process water, regionalized supply
• Flow property / unit: Volume / L
• Amount rule: metered withdrawal minus separately metered internal reuse, with formulation water identified
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_sanitation_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Acid cleaning agents (acid_cleaning_agents)

Record each acid cleaning agent as supplied and retain active concentration when available.

• Selected flow: Declared acid cleaning agent
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchased or issued mass minus stock change, allocated to product
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_sanitation_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Alkaline cleaning agents (alkaline_cleaning_agents)

Record each alkaline cleaning agent as supplied and retain active concentration when available.

• Selected flow: Declared alkaline cleaning agent
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: purchased or issued mass minus stock change, allocated to product
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_sanitation_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Waste flows

Dairy-processing wastewater to treatment (dairy_wastewater)

Record wastewater volume and measured COD or other locally material load before off-site or on-site treatment. Keep recovered product and separately collected high-strength streams out of this row.

• Selected flow: Dairy-processing wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Volume / L
• Amount rule: metered wastewater sent to treatment; do not assume equality with water input
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1 kg released net product after allocation
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_wastewater_records
• Sources: dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Elementary flows

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_avoid_first	multi-output foreground operations	First use separate metering, subdivision, or batch-specific records to assign inputs, utilities, emissions, wastes, and packaging directly to the product that caused them.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_dry_matter	inseparable dairy co-products and shared dairy-processing burdens	When direct assignment is impossible, allocate raw-milk upstream burdens, shared energy, water, chemicals, and wastewater by each dairy output's measured dry-matter mass: allocation factor i = dry-matter fraction i x wet output mass i / sum of that product over all dairy outputs.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_direct_materials	product-specific ingredients and packaging	Assign formulation ingredients and packaging directly to the product using batch and bill-of-material records; do not distribute them across unrelated products.	dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_losses	waste and product loss	Assign a loss directly when its originating product or batch is known; otherwise apply the same documented shared-process allocation basis used for the operation that generated it.	ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007; dairy-pefcr-2025
allocation_disclosure	all allocated inventory	Report the allocation level, data period, outputs, wet masses, dry-matter fractions, formula, resulting factors, and any deviation from direct assignment.	dairy-pefcr-2025

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_batch_materials	dairy_preparation	dairy and non-dairy inputs; prepared mix	batch production records	ingredient_id; supplier; lot_id; accepted_mass; dry_matter_fraction; dosing_mass; prepared_mix_mass; transfer_loss	calibrated scales, tank load cells, or volume plus measured density; reconcile to recipe and stock movement	kg wet mass; kg dry matter	each batch	representative continuous 12-month period	all lines producing the declared product	sum accepted inputs and outputs, then normalize to released net product	calibration certificates; supplier specifications; batch reconciliation; stock records
cp_route_operation	fermentation_or_acidification	culture, acidifier, treated bulk product, and route qualifiers	batch log and quality record	batch_id; culture_id; culture_dose; acidifier_id; acidifier_dose; starting_mass; endpoint_mass; pH; titratable_acidity; time; temperature; heat_treatment	dosing records, calibrated pH or acidity measurement, time-temperature historian, and vessel mass or volume record	kg; pH; acidity; deg C; h	each batch	same period as production output	every included route and product family	aggregate mass by route; keep route qualifiers separate before normalization	instrument calibration; culture or acidifier certificate; batch release record
cp_facility_utilities	finishing_and_cold_storage	electricity, thermal energy, and refrigerant loss	meter, invoice, and refrigerant service record	electricity_import; onsite_generation; electricity_export; fuel_quantity; fuel_LHV; purchased_heat; opening_charge; additions; recovered_refrigerant; closing_charge; allocation_driver	utility meters and invoices; documented lower-heating-value conversion; refrigerant mass balance	kWh; MJ; kg	monthly, with annual reconciliation	representative continuous 12-month period	complete facility plus disclosed submeter coverage	subtract exports; avoid double counting; directly assign submetered use and allocate remainder by section 7	meter identifiers; invoices; conversion factors; service logs; production totals
cp_packaging_records	finishing_and_cold_storage	packaging inputs and scrap	bill of materials, issue, stock, and scrap records	material_id; component; issued_mass; opening_stock; closing_stock; scrap_mass; packed_product_mass	weighed components or supplier mass specifications reconciled to stock and filled units	kg	each packaging campaign; monthly aggregation	same period as product output	all packaging used for the declared product	consumed mass = issues plus opening stock minus closing stock; normalize to packed net product	supplier specification; inventory reconciliation; scrap tickets
cp_output_and_losses	finishing_and_cold_storage	released product and product losses	batch release, filling, stock, and waste records	batch_id; filled_net_mass; bulk_dispatch_mass; released_mass; reject_mass; spill_mass; recovered_mass; destination	calibrated filler checks, dispatch scales, tank measurements, and waste records	kg	each batch	same period as input and utility data	all batches and routes in the dataset	sum released product; classify and reconcile each loss; normalize inventory to released mass	calibration records; release certificate; dispatch record; waste transfer evidence
cp_sanitation_records	sanitation_and_wastewater	water and cleaning agents	meter, CIP recipe, purchase, issue, and stock records	water_withdrawal; reused_water; formulation_water; cleaner_id; supplied_concentration; cleaner_mass; opening_stock; closing_stock; allocation_driver	water meters; CIP control logs; chemical issue and stock reconciliation	L or m3; kg	each cleaning cycle where available; monthly minimum	representative continuous 12-month period	all included process lines and shared sanitation systems	directly assign line records; allocate shared remainder by section 7; do not subtract reuse twice	meter calibration; CIP historian; chemical specifications; inventory reconciliation
cp_wastewater_records	sanitation_and_wastewater	wastewater volume and load	effluent meter, sampling, and treatment record	discharge_volume; treatment_destination; COD_concentration; sampling_time; sample_method; recovered_high_strength_streams	calibrated flow meter and representative composite sampling before treatment	m3; mg/L COD	continuous volume; representative sampling by permit or site plan	same period as production and water records	all foreground drains with exclusions disclosed	volume-weight concentration to annual load; allocate by direct line record or section 7	meter calibration; laboratory report; chain of custody; treatment receipt

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
normalize_to_reference_mass	all inventory rows	normalized amount = attributed foreground amount / released net product mass	attributed amount; released net product mass	amount per 1 kg released net product	dairy-pefcr-2025
calculate_dry_matter_allocation	shared dairy-processing burdens	factor_i = dry_matter_fraction_i x wet_output_mass_i / sum(dry_matter_fraction_j x wet_output_mass_j); attributed amount_i = shared amount x factor_i	wet output masses; dry-matter fractions; shared amount	allocation factor and attributed amount by output	dairy-pefcr-2025
calculate_refrigerant_loss	refrigeration systems	emitted refrigerant = opening charge + additions - closing charge - recovered quantity; negative results require reconciliation and are not accepted	opening charge; additions; closing charge; recovered quantity	kg refrigerant emitted before allocation	dairy-pefcr-2025
calculate_cod_load	wastewater	COD load = wastewater volume x measured COD concentration with consistent L and mass units	discharge volume; COD concentration	kg COD before allocation	dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007
reconcile_product_mass	each batch and annual dataset	inputs = released product + separately recovered product + material waste + wastewater-borne product solids + inventory change, within a disclosed reconciliation tolerance	input masses; outputs; losses; stock change	mass-balance residual and relative difference	ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity	product and route	Identify product designation, species, formulation family, fat and dry-matter content, fermentation culture or acidifier, heat treatments, concentration, packaging status, and storage condition.	specification; recipe; batch release and label records
dq_measurement	mass, utilities, chemicals, and wastewater	Use calibrated measurement where available; disclose volume-to-mass densities, energy conversions, sampling methods, missing submeter coverage, and allocation drivers.	calibration certificates; meter list; conversion worksheet; laboratory methods
dq_temporal	foreground dataset	Use a continuous 12-month period representative of normal operation, or document shorter coverage, seasonality, start-up, shutdown, and product-mix effects.	dated source records; production calendar; representativeness statement
dq_completeness	all foreground processes	Reconcile material inputs to product, recovered material, waste, wastewater-borne solids, and stock change; account for all included process lines and shared utilities.	mass-balance worksheet; site and line coverage map; excluded-flow log
dq_source_alignment	upstream datasets	Match ingredient, energy, packaging, chemical, and treatment datasets to geography, technology, and reference period; disclose proxies and data gaps.	dataset references; selection rationale; proxy register
dq_default_replacement	source-backed default values	Treat Dairy PEFCR example/default quantities only as replaceable screening values. A shareable foreground dataset must replace them with collected or calculated site-specific values and disclose any remaining default.	field-level provenance and default-replacement log

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validate_reference_flow	reference product	The output flow UUID, Mass property UUID, Units of mass UUID, and normalized amount shall equal the declared reference-flow object and 1 kg net product.
validate_required_qualifiers	product identity	Reject a data package missing any required qualifier or failing to distinguish microbial fermentation, direct acidification, combined treatment, and post-fermentation heat treatment.	codex-fermented-milks-243; codex-cream-288; ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111
validate_route_inputs	fermentation or acidification process	A microbial route shall identify culture and dose; a direct-acidification route shall identify acidifying substances and doses; absent route inputs shall not be invented.	codex-fermented-milks-243; codex-cream-288; ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111
validate_no_double_count	utilities, cleaning, and losses	Reject duplicated utility, cleaning, product-loss, wastewater, or packaging quantities across unit-process records and shared facility totals.	dairy-pefcr-2025
validate_allocation	multi-product facility data	Reject shared burdens without direct assignment evidence or a disclosed dry-matter allocation calculation whose factors sum to 1 within rounding tolerance.	dairy-pefcr-2025
validate_mass_balance	batch and annual foreground inventory	Require a disclosed mass-balance residual; investigate and explain material imbalance rather than forcing the reference output to close.	ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007
validate_wastewater	sanitation and wastewater	Require wastewater volume and treatment destination; when COD is material or required by the site plan, require representative measured concentration and calculated load.	dairy-pefcr-2025; ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007
validate_defaults	all source-backed defaults	Fail publication-quality completeness if any Dairy PEFCR default remains without explicit justification, uncertainty disclosure, and a replacement plan.	dairy-pefcr-2025

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	foreground data package for dairy manufacturing, suitable for publication as a secondary or background dataset after review
downstream_use	secondary_dataset; background_dataset; input to process and lifecyclemodel projections
allowed_use	Product-specific factory-gate modelling of fermented or acidified milk and cream; extension to broader life-cycle models through explicit upstream and downstream links
excluded_use	Unqualified comparison between different dairy subcategories; direct use for non-dairy analogues; farm production; undisclosed consumer-stage or cradle-to-grave claims; compliance claims against an expired external PEFCR
required_metadata	PCR id and version state; product designation and required qualifiers; facility geography; technology and route; reference period; boundary; data sources; upstream dataset links; allocation; default use; data quality
required_quality_disclosure	Primary-data share and coverage; meter and sampling coverage; mass-balance residual; allocation factors; default or proxy values; geographic, temporal, and technological representativeness; exclusions and uncertainty
update_trigger	Material formulation or route change; new heat treatment or concentration step; packaging or refrigerant change; facility or supplier change; allocation shift; reference data update; new reviewed category rule; data older than the declared representativeness window

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
codex-fermented-milks-243	Standard (standard)	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, CXS 243-2003, Standard for Fermented Milks, amended 2024, https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/sh-proxy/es/?lnk=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fworkspace.fao.org%2Fsites%2Fcodex%2FStandards%2FCXS+243-2003%2FCXS_243e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Fermented-milk scope, microbial routes, permitted ingredients, product qualifiers, composition ceiling, and heat-treatment distinction
codex-cream-288	Standard (standard)	FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius, CXS 288-1976, Standard for Cream and Prepared Creams, https://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/180/CXS_288e.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Fermented-cream and acidified-cream definitions, ingredients, and route distinction
ecfr-acidified-milk-131-111	Standard (standard)	U.S. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 21 CFR 131.111, Acidified milk, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-131/subpart-B/section-131.111 (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Official direct-acidification product definition and acidifying-input route evidence
dairy-pefcr-2025	Official guidance (official_guidance)	European Dairy Association Technical Secretariat, Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules for Dairy Products, Final PEFCR, February 2025, https://eda.euromilk.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/PEFCR-DairyProducts_update_final.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10; stated validity ended December 2025, used as technical evidence rather than a current compliance claim)	Foreground process decomposition, reference mass context, company-specific data fields, dry-matter allocation, packaging examples, and replaceable facility defaults
ifc-dairy-processing-ehs-2007	Official guidance (official_guidance)	World Bank Group / IFC, Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines for Dairy Processing, 30 April 2007, https://www.ifc.org/content/dam/ifc/doc/2000/2007-dairy-processing-ehs-guidelines-en.pdf (retrieved 2026-08-10)	Factory-gate processing boundary, receipt and storage, heat treatment, cleaning-in-place, product-loss prevention, wastewater, energy, and monitoring rules