No, raw milk sales are prohibited for human consumption in Germany under the Milchverordnung (Milk Ordinance), except in exceptional cases. Direct-to-consumer sales from farms are illegal, though unpasteurized milk may be sold as Vorzugsmilch (raw milk for direct consumption) under strict veterinary and hygiene controls supervised by local veterinary offices (Veterinärämter).
Key Regulations for Raw Milk in Germany
- Prohibition on Direct Sales: §17 of the Milchverordnung bans raw milk sales for human consumption unless marketed as Vorzugsmilch, which requires mandatory veterinary inspections every two weeks and strict hygiene protocols.
- Labeling and Traceability: Vorzugsmilch must carry explicit warnings about health risks (e.g., listeria, salmonella) and include the producer’s farm ID, batch number, and a “raw milk” declaration in German.
- 2026 Compliance Shifts: The EU’s Farm to Fork strategy pressures Germany to tighten raw milk oversight; from 2026, additional EU-wide microbiological testing thresholds for E. coli and staphylococci will apply to Vorzugsmilch producers.
Retail distribution of raw milk remains illegal nationwide, with enforcement conducted by local Lebensmittelüberwachungsbehörden (food safety authorities) in coordination with the Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL). Non-compliance risks fines up to €50,000 under §59 of the Lebensmittel- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch (LFGB).