Venezuela Raw Milk Laws & Regulations

Venezuela's formal regulatory framework requires pasteurization for commercially sold milk under standards administered historically by the Servicio Autónomo de Sanidad Agropecuaria (SASA) and the Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Agricultura Productiva y Tierras (MPPAT). The Instituto Nacional de Higiene "Rafael Rangel" (INHRR) sets food safety standards including those applicable to dairy products.

Raw milk (leche cruda) is widely consumed throughout Venezuela through traditional farm-direct and local market channels. The country's small-scale dairy sector — particularly in the Llanos and Andes regions — has long supplied raw milk to local communities through direct and informal sales. In recent years, broader economic and infrastructure challenges have reduced the capacity for regulatory enforcement, making informal raw milk distribution more prevalent across both rural and urban areas.