Is Raw Milk Legal in Denmark After the 2026 Framework Overhaul?

No, raw milk sales are prohibited in Denmark under the Dyreværnsloven (Animal Welfare Act) and Fødevareforvaltningens guidelines, with enforcement by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (Fødevarestyrelsen). The 2026 EU Farm-to-Fork strategy’s stricter hygiene rules further limit exemptions, permitting sales only via direct farm-to-consumer channels under stringent conditions.


Key Regulations for Raw Milk in Denmark

  • Mandatory Pasteurization: All commercial raw milk sales are banned; pasteurization is required per EU Regulation 853/2004 and Danish Fødevareforordningen §12.
  • Farm Exemptions: Direct sales from producers to consumers are permitted only if the farm holds a Fødevarestyrelsen license, adheres to monthly bacterial testing (≤100,000 CFU/ml), and displays explicit health warnings.
  • Traceability & Labeling: Exempt farms must maintain 2-year records of milking hygiene, animal health, and distribution. Labels must state “Rå mælk – kan indeholde skadelige bakterier” (Raw milk – may contain harmful bacteria).

Non-compliance risks fines up to DKK 50,000 (≈€6,700) or criminal liability under Straffelovens §178. The 2026 EU revisions tighten these rules, eliminating loopholes for small-scale producers.