Selling Raw Drinking Milk to Consumers
MPI guidance on permitted sales channels, registration requirements, and the Regulated Control Scheme for raw milk producers and depot operators in New Zealand.
View Official Resource →New Zealand Raw Milk Laws & Regulations
Legal via farm gate, home delivery, and MPI-registered depot operators. Producers must register under the Regulated Control Scheme.
Legal Status & Regulations
Raw milk is legal to sell to consumers in New Zealand under the Raw Milk for Sale to Consumers Regulations 2015 (SR 2015/309), administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Permitted sales channels are farm gate sales, home delivery direct to consumers, and sales through registered depot operators. A depot operator is an MPI-registered business that stores and sells raw milk to consumers at an off-farm location, which may include retail shops.
Producers and depot operators must register with MPI under the Raw Milk for Sale to Consumers Regulated Control Scheme (RCS). The RCS sets requirements for production standards, pathogen testing, storage, transportation, and record-keeping. All raw milk must carry a mandatory health warning label. Raw milk cannot be on-sold through unregistered third parties.
Official Government Resources
Official government documents and legal resources for New Zealand
Raw Milk for Sale to Consumers Regulations 2015 (SR 2015/309)
The primary legislation governing the sale of raw milk to consumers in New Zealand, establishing the Regulated Control Scheme framework.
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