Raw Drinking Milk — Food Standards Australia New Zealand
FSANZ position on raw drinking milk and the Food Standards Code pasteurisation requirement that applies across all Australian states and territories.
View Official Resource →Australia Raw Milk Laws & Regulations
Raw cow milk is banned for human consumption in all states and territories. Raw goat milk is permitted with restrictions in four states.
Legal Status & Regulations
The sale of raw milk for human consumption is prohibited under the FSANZ Food Standards Code, which applies across all Australian states and territories. The Code requires that fluid milk intended for sale must be pasteurised or equivalently heat-treated. No state or territory has legislated to permit the retail sale of raw cow milk for human consumption.
The Code contains an exemption that allows individual states to permit the sale of raw goat milk under their own dairy food safety schemes. Four states exercise this exemption: New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. Victoria and Tasmania do not permit raw goat milk for human consumption.
Raw "bath milk" or "cosmetic milk" (raw cow milk sold as a topical cosmetic product) is available in some states. It is not a legal food product and must carry deterrence labeling. Victoria requires a bittering agent to be added to discourage consumption.
Select a state or territory below for its specific regulations.
Official Government Resources
Official government documents and legal resources for Australia
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Raw Milk Laws by State & Territory
Select a state & territory to view its specific regulations.
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Australian Capital Territory
Raw milk prohibited in accordance with the FSANZ Food Standards Code. No separate ACT dairy scheme exists to permit raw milk sales.
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New South Wales
Raw cow milk banned. Raw goat milk permitted under the NSW dairy food safety scheme with testing and labeling requirements.
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Northern Territory
Raw milk prohibited in accordance with the FSANZ Food Standards Code. No separate NT dairy scheme exists to permit raw milk sales.
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Queensland
Raw cow milk banned. Raw goat milk permitted under the Queensland dairy scheme with mandatory testing, recall procedures, and caution labeling.
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South Australia
Raw cow milk banned. Raw goat milk permitted under strict conditions including testing, recall procedures, and labeling administered by SA Health.
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Tasmania
Raw milk of any species banned for human consumption. Tasmania does not participate in the raw goat milk exemption available in some mainland states.
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Victoria
Raw milk of any species is banned for human consumption. Victoria does not permit raw goat milk sales and requires a bittering agent in cosmetic bath milk.
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Western Australia
Raw cow milk banned. Raw goat milk permitted under the state dairy scheme with testing and labeling requirements.
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