Raw Milk Products
(including raw drinking milk and raw milk cheese)
(Australia only)
FSANZ work on raw milk products
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.
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 (products that have not undergone a heat treatment process) is not intended to challenge or alter the use of these existing food safety systems but is targeted towards assessing the potential use of alternative, feasible systems for the possible production of some raw milk products in Australia that will provide acceptable food safety outcomes.
The science surrounding the safety of raw milk products is complex. A thorough understanding is required of the processes involved in on-farm production and subsequent manufacturing in processing plants. FSANZ is currently undertaking a scientific assessment process of the risks to public health and safety which may arise from the consumption of raw milk products.
FSANZ will be assisted during the assessment processes by a Standard Development Committee comprising members from consumer, government and dairy industry bodies with expertise in the dairy industry
Reasons for commencing work on raw milk products
FSANZ has commenced work on assessing raw milk products with the aim of:
- achieving consistency of approach across all States and Territories of Australia, thereby addressing present inconsistencies in requirements for the sale of raw goats milk;
- reducing the need for a case-by-case assessment of individual applications to approve raw milk products; and
- providing a level playing field for domestic and overseas manufacturers of raw milk products.
Opportunity to input into the process
FSANZ will provide two formal opportunities for interested parties to contribute and provide comment during the assessment process. Public comment will be invited at both the 1st Assessment and 2nd Assessment Stages and will be advertised on the FSANZ website. In addition, individuals and organisations can be placed on a Register of Interested Parties to receive information on the progress of the raw milk products work and to be notified when public comment is invited.
If you would like to be placed on the Register, please send your contact details including name, postal and email address 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 2222
fax: 02 6271 2278 or email information@foodstandards.gov.au
Additional Information
We will provide regular fact sheets containing relevant up to date information about the progress of the raw milk products work.