New Jersey Raw Milk Laws & Regulations

Raw milk sales for human consumption are prohibited in New Jersey under N.J.A.C. 2:82 (New Jersey Department of Agriculture regulations governing milk and milk products), which requires pasteurization for all milk sold for human consumption in the state. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture enforces the pasteurization requirement and oversees dairy herd health programs. No farm-direct permit, farmers market license, herdshare statute, or retail raw milk authorization has been established under New Jersey law. New Jersey does not have a food sovereignty statute that would provide an alternative pathway.

Bills to legalize farm-direct raw milk sales have been introduced periodically in the New Jersey Legislature. A 2024 bill sought to authorize direct-to-consumer sales from licensed farms with testing and labeling requirements, but did not advance out of committee. New Jersey consumers seeking raw milk typically travel to Pennsylvania, which has one of the most developed licensed raw milk retail frameworks in the country, with grocery stores and health food stores stocking raw milk from state-permitted farms. The proximity of much of New Jersey to Pennsylvania's active raw milk market makes cross-border access practical for a large share of NJ residents.