Dairy farms are regulated under the provincial Food and Drugs Act (Food Premises Regulations) to assure that milk produced on these farms is safe for human consumption.
Routine inspection and sampling of milk from these farms is performed by inspectors of the Service NL.
Milk samples are analysed in the Animal Health Laboratory for:
- Antibiotics
- Freezing point
- Somatic cell count
- Bacterial count
- Milk components (butterfat, protein, lactose)
- Sediment
The standards used for regulating raw milk are those established under Canada’s National Dairy Code. To assure that results are accurate the Animal Health Laboratory is accredited for this work under the Standards Council of Canada’s ISO17025 program.
In cooperation with the dairy industry, the Daphne Taylor Milk Quality Award Program has been created to recognize excellence in milk production.
For more information on milk quality or this program see related food safety publications or contact the Animal Health Division’s Food Safety Specialist or the Chief Veterinary Officer.