Raw Milk

RAW MILK SUPPLIERS

Farmers need to start registering with MPI now, as according to current regulations.

The Raw Drinking Milk Producers of New Zealand (RDMPNZ) is an organisation formed by producers for support and to communicate with MPI. Through this communication we have had many parts of the new regs amended following comments and suggestions from us throughout the designing stage. While we accept that some aspects of the new regs are a little over the top or unnecessary, they are now in place so we all need to find a way to work with them. RDMPNZ is here to make this transition process smoother for all involved.

It is important for producers to understand that producing RDM is a lot more intense than for factory milk, such as preparation of the udder for milking.

For more info, contact Chairman Mark Houston, mark@villagemilk.co.nz , or IPC Ray Riding, ridings@farmside.co.nz.

MPI Summary of the Regulations

• Farmers will need to register with MPI to sell raw milk.
• Only farmers that meet the new requirements will be able to register and sell their raw drinking milk. Raw milk must be home-delivered or bought at the farm.
• Collection points won't be allowed under the new regulations. Consumers will need to go to the farm or have the milk delivered to their home by transporters who meet the requirements.
• Labels must be used to highlight the health risks of raw milk.
• All containers and point-of-sale areas must display labels and notices that identify the health risks of raw milk. These notices and labels are required to be in place by 1 November, 2016 and will also provide:
•      use-by dates
•      information on refrigeration
•      the contact details of the farmer who produced the raw milk
•      specific warnings for consumers in high-risk groups – such as the young, pregnant, elderly and people with weakened immune systems.

You can have a weakened immune system through surgery, certain medications, and long-term (chronic) illnesses.

• Raw milk can't be resold.
• Consumers can buy as much raw milk as they want for personal and household use, but it's illegal to onsell – either as milk or as part of another product like cheese.
• Consumers will be asked for contact details, and farmers selling raw milk will ask for a name, address and phone number, which will be recorded along with the volume and date of sale. Alternatively, farmers may provide a place to record these details. This will enable them to contact customers if a batch of milk fails safety testing.

Risks remain

While these regulations are intended to better manage the health risks of raw milk, they will not eliminate them. The safest option is to consume only pasteurised milk, or to heat raw milk to 70 degrees Celsius, and hold it at that temperature for 1 minute. If you don't have a thermometer, heat the milk until it reaches boiling (or scald the milk).

Who to contact

If you have questions about raw milk, email info@mpi.govt.nz