Raw milk is legal in Northern Ireland from holdings registered via DAERA, but just three producers appeared on the FSA March 2026 register.
Northern Ireland permits the direct sale of raw drinking milk from registered milk production holdings, but has by far the smallest legal sector in the United Kingdom. The Food Standards Agency register as at 1 March 2026 listed just three establishments in Northern Ireland, out of 149 across the three nations where sale is lawful.
The registration route differs from Great Britain. A producer applies to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), after which a Dairy Hygiene Inspector visits the holding and carries out an inspection. If conditions are acceptable a sample of raw milk is taken and analysed under food hygiene legislation, and once a satisfactory result is returned the FSA notifies the applicant and the local authority. The current guidance, Production of Raw Drinking Milk for Direct Human Consumption: A guide to the law in Northern Ireland, reached version 3 in November 2025 and was developed jointly by the FSA and DAERA.
Direct farm gate supply to the final consumer is permitted; sale through supermarkets and retail shops has been prohibited since 1985. Following Brexit, Northern Ireland continues to operate under EU-aligned dairy hygiene rules through the Windsor Framework (formerly the Northern Ireland Protocol), so producers must meet EU microbiological standards and herd status criteria. The FSA considers raw drinking milk a high-risk food and applies enhanced controls, with registered holdings inspected more frequently than conventional dairy operations.
With only three registered holdings, options are extremely limited and geographically concentrated. All appear in the FSA's monthly open dataset with address, species kept and compliance rating. For the wider picture, see the United Kingdom raw milk laws overview.
Official government documents and legal resources for Northern Ireland
The FSA and DAERA guide to raw milk law in Northern Ireland, version 3 (November 2025), covering registration through DAERA, the Dairy Hygiene Inspector process, hygiene requirements and permitted sales channels.
View Official Resource →Monthly published register of raw drinking milk producers across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The 1 March 2026 release listed three Northern Irish establishments.
View Official Resource →Search for raw milk sources near popular locations in Northern Ireland
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