As of 1 January, 2025, new legislation has come into effect with stricter requirements for raw milk and raw cream. These regulations apply to dairy farmers who supply raw milk or cream directly to consumers, for example via a farm shop or milk tap / milk vending machine. The goal is to further improve food safety. What exactly do you need to comply with?
Masja Horrevorts, Operations Manager at Eurofins WFC, explains the new rules: “According to the new guidelines, dairy farmers must have their raw milk tested monthly for the following bacteria:
In addition, a bi-monthly analysis for the total aerobic plate count at 30 °C remains mandatory.” Is this really necessary? According to Horrevorts, it is: “The requirements have a considerable impact on smaller dairy farmers. However, raw milk is indeed a high-risk product. STEC and Salmonella can make people very ill. By testing regularly, you can effectively manage the risks and stay compliant with the new legislation.”
The analyses for Salmonella, Campylobacter, and STEC must therefore take place at least once a month, at the end of the shelf life or after 72 hours. “However, if the results meet the statutory requirements for six consecutive months, you may reduce the frequency to once every two months. This helps to reduce costs. For the total aerobic plate count, the frequency remains twice a month,” Horrevorts explains.
The new requirements took effect immediately on 1 January, 2025. Horrevorts: “The NVWA (Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) has been able to enforce them ever since. Therefore, start the testing now so that you can take prompt control measures if the test results turn out to be too high.”
“Are you supplying the samples yourself? Then make sure you pay close attention to proper sampling. Ensure that your hands are clean and that you use sterile equipment so that we only test what is actually in the milk or cream. This helps prevent a false positive result caused by Salmonella bacterium being transferred from your hands while the milk itself is uncontaminated.”
Horrevorts: “We offer an end-to-end solution for dairy farmers. We can completely take care of sampling, analysis, and reporting, allowing you to focus on running your business. Our service package is fully aligned with the new legislation and ensures you always comply with the requirements. We can also include your mandatory analysis for the total aerobic plate count. This saves you money, as only a single transport and pre-treatment of the sample are required, and less product is needed.”
“Our laboratory operates under ISO 17025 accreditation and has extensive experience with STEC. Moreover, we can collect samples from your location upon request. If the analysis results show that Salmonella, E. coli, or Campylobacter is present in your product, we will work with you to identify where in your process you can implement measures to prevent contamination. You will receive the dedicated support and guidance you need.”
Would you like to learn more? View the full amendment to the Warenwetbesluit hygiëne van levensmiddelen (Commodities Act Decree on Food Hygiene) here. Or contact us via sales-food-nl@ftbnl.eurofins.com or call us at +31 (0) 888 31 00 00 for personalised advice. Together, we will ensure that you comply with legal requirements and can continue to deliver safe products.