No. Raw milk sales are prohibited in Colombia under strict food safety laws enforced by the Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (INVIMA), with no legal exceptions for direct consumer sales. The 2023 Decreto 1076 and Resolución 2674 reinforce sanitary controls, mandating pasteurization for all commercial milk distribution. Local health departments actively monitor informal markets, imposing fines or seizure of unpasteurized products.
Key Regulations for Raw Milk in Colombia
- INVIMA Resolution 2674 (2013): Requires all milk intended for human consumption to undergo pasteurization or equivalent treatment, banning raw milk sales in supermarkets, markets, or street vendors.
- Decreto 1076 (2023): Codifies sanitary standards, classifying raw milk as a high-risk product due to pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, with penalties for non-compliance including business closure.
- Local Health Ordinances: Municipal authorities (e.g., Secretarías de Salud in Bogotá, Medellín) conduct periodic raids on informal raw milk vendors, seizing products and imposing administrative sanctions under Ley 9 de 1979 (Public Health Code).
Exceptions exist only for on-farm consumption by producers, provided no commercial distribution occurs. Importing raw milk requires INVIMA pre-approval, subject to Decreto 1500 (2007) sanitary protocols. Recent 2026 compliance shifts emphasize digital traceability for dairy supply chains, increasing scrutiny on unregistered raw milk networks.