New rules for milk inspection have been introduced at food markets. What will be controlled
30 April 12:07
On April 29, new rules for conducting laboratory tests of milk and dairy products in agri-food markets came into force in Ukraine. This was reported by the State Service of Ukraine for Food Safety and Consumer Protection, according to
These rules, approved by an order of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, are mandatory for operators of the milk and dairy products market, including small-scale producers, as well as agri-food markets.
It is envisaged that milk and dairy products may be sold on the markets if the following documents are available
– a veterinary and/or identification document certifying the veterinary, sanitary and epizootic well-being of the milk production farm in terms of contagious diseases and the health status of animals (the document must indicate the date and result of animal testing for subclinical mastitis, the date of anthrax vaccination, testing for tuberculosis, leukemia, brucellosis and other diseases)
– an expert opinion with the results of laboratory tests of raw milk and/or dairy products made from it, issued by an accredited laboratory located in the agri-food market.
Sampling at agri-food markets will be carried out by specialists from accredited laboratories who will inspect the entire batch of milk or dairy products.
In addition to milk, sour cream and cream, cottage cheese, ryazhenka and kefir, butter and brynza, and other home-made cheeses will also be tested.
For example, sour cream and cream made from raw milk will be tested for impurities (especially cottage cheese).
It is assumed that the taste and smell of sour cream should be clean, fermented, without any other pronounced flavors and odors not characteristic of sour cream. Appearance and consistency – should be homogeneous, moderately thick and clean, without fat and protein (cottage cheese) grains. The appearance of sour cream should be glossy, and the color should be from white to light yellow throughout, without any off-color.
These Rules will help to improve the system of control over the safety of dairy products in the agri-food market, and thus ensure the health of consumers.
By the way, the price of milk on the Ukrainian market continues to decline. This is how the price is affected by the decline in demand.
According to Giorgi Kukhaleishvili, an analyst at the Association of Milk Producers, there are risks of further price declines, which may be caused by a reduction in the supply of milk powder and cheese products, the introduction of protectionist measures in export markets, and the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
The price situation is also affected by the fact that dairy farms in Ukraine have increased their production of raw milk. This may increase surpluses in the domestic market and complicate the sale of finished products.
According to preliminary data from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, in March 2025, farms of all categories produced 556 thousand tons of raw milk, which is 117 thousand tons more (plus 27%) than in February this year, but 20 thousand tons less (minus 4%) than in March 2024.
