Issued by: Department of Health
4 December 1997
PRETORIA - The Minister of Health has signed regulations which will place severe limitations on the sale of raw milk. Raw milk defined as cow's goat's and sheep milk which has not been pasteurised, sterilised or treated by ultra high temperature.
Milk is a very nutritious and important food for most South Africans. For many years the sale of raw milk has been a controversial matter and many calls have been made to the Department of Health, for a total ban on the sale of raw milk. The main reason for these calls is the greater danger of transmitting diseases such as tuberculosis and brucellosis to humans through the consumption of raw mil.
The health and safety requirements for raw milk in terms of the Foodstuff's, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act 54 of 1972), have always been very strict. While raw milk producers sometimes experience difficulty in complying with the strict requirements, the main problem is the difficulty that local authorities have in enforcing the regulations. It is virtually impossible to provide the enormous human and monetary resources that are necessary for the regular sampling and analysis of the many daily consignments of raw milk that can enter large towns and cities from a variety of suppliers.
New Regulations Relating to Milk and Dairy Products (Government Notice No R 1555 of 21 November 1997) contain provisions that are aimed at solving the problem while still allowing access to raw milk for those communities which desire it and are of the opinion that they can exercise the necessary control.
According to the new regulations, no person shall after 21 November 1999 be allowed to sell raw milk, raw skimmed milk, raw reconstituted (prepared) skimmed milk or raw milk that has become sour, except in the areas of jurisdiction of those local authorities that are listed in the Government Gazette.
Any local authority that is of the opinion that it can exercise sufficient control over the sale of these raw dairy products may request the Minister of Health via its relevant provincial health department, to be listed. Thus will enable the democratically elected representatives of individual communities to make their own decisions on this very important matter.
Producers and sellers of unpasteurised milk and dairy products are urged to contact their local authorities in order to establish the latter's policy and decision on this matter. Those local authorities that desire listing must contact their provincial health departments as soon as possible to ensure timeous listing in the Government Gazette.
It is hoped that these new measures will also help curb the illegal sale of milk. "Consumers that purchase milk and dairy products from dubious sources are gambling with their health" warned Dr van de Venter, of the Department of Health. "Consumers should be aware that infants and young children, the aged and immune- compromised persons are particularly vulnerable to infections transmitted by milk and other unsafe foods".
I live and thrive on raw milk (unpasteurized milk). I need my daily Pro-Biotic. I drink it in the form of kefir. Where does the Department of Health get their information on what is healthy and what is not. The Organic Farms that we buy our raw milk from have more sense to ensure the environment is safe and exceptionally clean. One farmer has more brains than the entire compliment of staff in the Department of Health. This week, Organic Shops and Farmers were forbidden to continue the sales of raw milk. I want the Department of Health to tell me how I am going to create my kefir that sustains me and keeps me alive. IDIOTS!
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