The quality of raw milk remains a sensitive issue for Romania’s dairy industry, being closely linked to food safety and competitiveness on the European market. Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004 imposes strict standards on the total number of germs and somatic cells, criteria that are constantly monitored by veterinary and food safety authorities.

According to the 2024 ANSVSA report, approximately 17% of the samples analyzed exceeded the limits imposed by European legislation, especially in small and medium-sized farms. The most frequent non-compliances are related to milking hygiene, transport conditions, and the lack of efficient cooling facilities.

At the same time, farms that invested in cooling tanks and digital monitoring systems for milk quality recorded a 30% decrease in non-compliances. Eurostat shows that Romania is still below the European average in terms of raw milk quality, which limits competitiveness on external markets.

To reduce this gap, authorities are supporting investments in collection and storage infrastructure through the CAP 2023–2027, while processors are demanding that farmers comply with stricter standards before milk reception.

Improving the quality of raw milk is essential not only for consumer safety but also for strengthening the image of Romanian products on the European market.

(Photo: Freepik)