Yes, unpasteurized cheese is legal in the Netherlands but subject to strict EU and Dutch food safety regulations. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) enforces compliance with hygiene standards, while the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) monitors production and import. Recent 2026 EU regulations tighten controls on raw-milk cheeses, requiring enhanced traceability and pathogen testing.
Key Regulations for Unpasteurized Cheese in Netherlands
- EU Regulation 853/2004 mandates raw-milk cheeses to undergo maturation for at least 60 days to reduce microbial risks, unless alternative safety measures are validated by NVWA.
- Dutch Commodities Act (Warenwet) prohibits the sale of unpasteurized soft cheeses (e.g., Brie, Camembert) unless producers demonstrate compliance with additional hygiene controls under HACCP plans.
- NVWA Inspections require domestic and imported unpasteurized cheeses to carry health certificates and undergo random sampling for Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli O157:H7, with non-compliant batches subject to immediate recall.
Producers must register with NVWA and maintain records of milk source, processing conditions, and maturation periods. Imported unpasteurized cheeses face stricter scrutiny, including pre-market approval from the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF). Failure to meet these standards results in fines up to €87,000 or criminal liability under Dutch food law.