Dairy Food Safety Victoria to regulate new rules for sale of raw milk

Dairy Food Safety Victoria (DFSV) in Australia has been given responsibility by Victoria’s state government to introduce regulations for a bittering agent to be added to any raw, cosmetic milk sold in the state to make it unpalatable.

The government announced the new law after a child died and several others were hospitalised after drinking raw milk.

DFSV, which is the independent regulator of Victoria’s dairy industry, has been holding discussions with Victoria’s state government about identifying ways of controlling the sale of raw milk.

The agency said that it plans to place conditions on the licences of all dairy farmers that would require them to ensure that any production not intended for dairy food manufacturers be treated in a way to make it safe for human consumption.

The statement said that most dairy farmers who already hold DFSV licences will not be affected by the new regulations. A small number of farmers will need to modify their way of treating raw milk that is not meant for human consumption.

DFSV said in its statement: "It should be noted that these measures are not intended to affect the use of raw milk on farm, noting that farmers are expected to manage the risk posed by raw milk in the farm environment."

ABC quoted DFSV CEO Jennifer McDonald said: "People who are producing dairy products not intended for human consumption will clearly identify those products and make them so they are not able to be consumed, in the same way that other cosmetics are treated."

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Image: Victoria’s state government in Australia introduced new laws for the selling of raw milk after a child died and several others were hospitalised after consuming it. Photo: courtesy of aopsan / freedigitalphotos.net.