[Joseph]

Hi all, I was wondering, is anyone here a Registered  Dairy Producer?


If my memory serves me, besides for having a washable and detached milking room, what are the costs involved in sample testing and what are the other bureaucratic hurdles to cross if I was to sell raw milk (at the door of course)? Worth contemplating?

[plumseverywhere]

Not sure if you can sell raw milk for human consumption?

I sell it for animals - ie. a person buys it to give to puppies, kittens, sick lambs etc. Of course I have no idea what happens when it leaves my property but I label the bottle "unpasteurised, animal consumption only".

[Ina]

Not sure if you can sell raw milk for human consumption?

It's illegal in Scotland, but as far as I know still allowed in England - no idea about the conditions for it, though.

[Anke]

Hi all, I was wondering, is anyone here a Registered  Dairy Producer?


If my memory serves me, besides for having a washable and detached milking room, what are the costs involved in sample testing and what are the other bureaucratic hurdles to cross if I was to sell raw milk (at the door of course)? Worth contemplating?

There are a few members of the BGS who have recently managed to get consent/licenses to sell raw milk, not sure if it is through a shop or from the gate/direct. If you are a BGS member you should be able to contact them through the BGS forum. Have you gooogled it - I am sure the ones I have heard about have websites. But I would think you would need a damn good business plan to convince Joe Public (and your local FSA folk) that is is safe to drink and tastes like proper milk should taste like!!

[Anke]

Oh and I forgot - no unpasteurised milk north of the Border.... not sure where you are based.

[Lesley Silvester]

I'm pretty certain that goes for England as well.
Like plums, when I've sold it, it has been on the understanding that it is for animal consumption only.  Of course, I had no idea they were buying it for their children.  I've also sold soft cheese on that basis as well.

[plumseverywhere]

done the same with plum wine MGWoM!! some of the drunkest animals in Worcs round here 

[katie]

A friend of mine sold unpasteurised goats' milk but the fee for the monthly testing doubled in a year and sadly, she had to give it up. I think most people go the 'animal consumption only' route.

[plumseverywhere]

Should Savannah not be the annual miracle maiden milker next year, I'll be looking for raw milk to make soap with...there is definitely a market for it!!

[Lesley Silvester]

done the same with plum wine MGWoM!! some of the drunkest animals in Worcs round here 

Alky animals.      don't you need to pay tax on it if it's for animals?

[plumseverywhere]

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!     

[Joseph]

Thank you for all your replies.


It still is legal in England, and if the EU legislation alone would apply, it would be perfectly OK to sell a small quantity of raw milk without registration. The EU directive however, in this case, left room for each member state to retain its own legislation with regard to small productions of dairy products.


And so in England and Wales too IIRC it still is legal to sell at least at the farm gate providing you have your milk and herd tested frequently and that you are a registered dairy producer.


It would seem that the cost involved is prohibitive though, as katie says.  I was curious if anyone here has been through the kerfuffle.. 

[Polished Arrow]

Meh!  I have had several local people asking whether we'd be willing to deliver goats milk to their homes as the milkman doesn't do it. Not that we'll have milk for quite  while mind you.


So, how does that affect cheese making?  I wonder what quantity you have to be making to make it cost effective to have them tested?


Great question, Joseph 

[fiestyredhead331]

Here in Scotland we can sell unpastuerised goat's milk direct to the consumer as long as it is clearly labelled 'not for human consumption'. we are looking into going down the whole registered dairy thing but with all the red tape etc it will take time & money which we can't spare at the moment. As it is we're not producing enough milk to make it worthwhile, just enough for soap & cheese for ourselves but if all goes well and we can increase the herd to a reasonable size then we'll think about it again as we've had quite a few people ask about buying milk as goats are not that common around here.

[Ina]

Here in Scotland we can sell unpastuerised goat's milk direct to the consumer as long as it is clearly labelled 'not for human consumption'.

So, strictly speaking, the consumers/buyers should then be obliged to prove that they have enough animals to consume all that milk...


Argh!!! When will this madness stop?