Raw Milk Products – Current Situation in Australia
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) is currently assessing the requirements in the Food Standards Code for the sale of raw milk products in Australia.
The current regulations in place in the Australian dairy industry include the heat treatment of milk (pasteurisation) to ensure a high level of dairy product safety. The work being undertaken by FSANZ in relation to raw milk products is not intended to challenge or alter the use of these existing food safety systems but is targeted towards assessing if there are any alternative, feasible systems that may support the production of some raw milk products.
What are raw milk and raw milk products?
Raw milk is milk that has not undergone a heat treatment process such as pasteurisation or thermisation to kill pathogenic bacteria. Raw milk products are products such as cheese that are made from milk that has not undergone a heat treatment process. Raw milk products may be derived from a number of milking animals including cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, horse and camel.
Are raw milk products permitted for sale in Australia?
The Food Standards Code requires milk for drinking and milk used for cheese making to undergo a heat treatment process unless an applicable law of a State or Territory expressly provides otherwise. The States of QLD, NSW, WA and SA have laws in place that allow the production of raw goat milk, that has not undergone a heat treatment process.
The Food Standards Code permits a few types of specific raw milk cheeses to be sold in Australia including extra hard type cheeses (parmesan types), the Swiss cheeses Emmental, Gruyere and Sbrinz, and Roquefort cheese.
Every raw milk product that is permitted for sale in Australia must be labelled with a statement to the effect that the product has not been pasteurised.
Why is FSANZ looking at raw milk products?
We are assessing the requirements to:
- achieve consistency of approach across all States and Territories of Australia, thereby addressing present inconsistencies in requirements for the sale of raw goats milk;
- reduce the need for a case-by-case assessment of an individual product when manufacturers apply to have products approved; and
- provide a level playing field for domestic and overseas manufacturers of raw milk products.
What is FSANZ doing?
FSANZ – with the assistance of the dairy industry, consumers and other government agencies – has commenced an assessment of issues, risks and possible safety management measures associated with the production of some raw milk products. FSANZ has begun a scientific assessment of the safety of raw goat and cow milk and raw milk cheeses. These assessments will identify the risks to public health posed by these products and what production control would be required to ensure the safety of raw milk products.
If production control measures can be established that will ensure a safe product, , then such control measures would be included in a primary production and processing standard in the Food Standards Code.
What is a primary production and processing standard?
Primary production and processing standards set out the food safety obligations on primary producers and processors of milk and dairy products. These obligations include measures to control food safety hazards that could occur during the production and processing of primary produce. These standards, in combination with other standards in the Code, provide an approach to managing food safety in Australia that extends from production on the farm through to sale to the consumer.
How will FSANZ determine the safety of raw milk products?
The science surrounding the safety of raw milk products is complex and requires a thorough understanding of the steps involved in the production and processing of raw milk products.
The assessment process outlines hazards associated with these steps as well as the overall risk to public health and safety which may arise from the consumption of these products.
Through extensive consultation with the dairy industry, government and consumers, we will determine if the hazards and risks associated with these products can be managed satisfactorily to permit the safe production and sale of some raw milk products in Australia.
Where do I find information on FSANZ’s raw milk products project?
You can nominate to be placed on the FSANZ interested parties register. People on the register will receive information about the progress of the raw milk products work. If you would like to be placed on this register please forward your contact details to information@foodstandards.gov.au
Who can I contact for further information?
If you would like any further information please contact:
Christina Belperio
Senior Food Scientist
Food Safety
tel: 02 6271 2276
fax: 02 6271 2278