Raw milk, an essential raw material for the dairy industry, has become a sensitive issue in Romania due to its uneven quality and the strict requirements of the European market.

According to Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, raw milk intended for processing must have a total germ count below 100,000/ml. However, ANSVSA data show that in 2024, approximately 18% of samples taken from Romanian farms did not meet these limits. This raises serious concerns about food safety and restricts access to external markets.

Eurostat confirms that Romania has lower farm-level productivity, which directly impacts milk quality. In addition, the collection infrastructure is fragmented, and modern collection centers are insufficient.

The Ministry of Agriculture included in the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan funding lines for the modernization of farms and collection centers, with grants of up to €200,000, but the absorption rate remains low.

“Compliance with European standards is non-negotiable if we want access to external markets,” stated an expert from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The proposed solutions focus on investments in hygiene, farmer training, and the digitalization of quality monitoring processes.

At the same time, Romanian consumers are becoming more attentive to the origin and safety of products, which adds further pressure on the industry.

The raw milk crisis can be turned into an opportunity if Romania manages to align available funding with a coherent implementation strategy.

(Photo: Freepik)