Is Raw Milk Legal in Brazil After the 2026 Regulatory Updates?

No. Raw milk sales are prohibited for direct human consumption in Brazil. The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) classifies raw milk as a high-risk product due to microbial contamination risks, aligning with stricter 2026 food safety protocols under RDC 727/2022.

Key Regulations for Raw Milk in Brazil

  • ANVISA RDC 727/2022: Mandates pasteurization or UHT treatment for all milk sold for human consumption, with raw milk restricted to industrial processing (e.g., cheese production with aging ≥60 days under MAPA oversight).
  • MAPA Normative Instruction 77/2016: Requires raw milk for dairy processing to meet hygiene standards (e.g., somatic cell count ≤500,000/mL, bacterial count ≤300,000 UFC/mL) and undergo official inspections.
  • State-Level Bans: São Paulo (Decree 56.580/2010) and Paraná (Law 18.992/2016) explicitly prohibit raw milk sales, with penalties including fines up to R$1 million for violations.

Non-compliance risks include product seizures, facility closures, and criminal liability under the Brazilian Penal Code (Art. 272). Exemptions exist only for small-scale producers supplying directly to consumers in rural areas, subject to MAPA-approved risk mitigation plans.