NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON RAW MILK

Foreword

QCVN 01-186: 2017/BNNPTNT is prepared by the National Technical Regulation Drafting Committee, submitted by the Department of Livestock Production for approval and promulgated together with the Circular No. 29/2017/TT-BNNPTNT dated December 29, 2017 of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

NATIONAL TECHNICAL REGULATION ON RAW MILK

1. GENERAL

1.1. Scope

This Regulation provides for quality and food safety indicators and regulatory requirements for raw milk.

1.2. Regulated entities

This Regulation applies to raw milk producers and traders possessing an enterprise registration certificate in Vietnam and related agencies.

1.3. Definition

“raw milk” in this Regulation means fluid milk obtained from cows, buffalo, goats, sheep without either addition to it or extraction from it, not processed by any method and used as an ingredient for processing.

2. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1. Organoleptic indicators and physico-chemical indicators

Organoleptic indicators and physico-chemical indicators of raw milk are provided in the Appendix A to this Regulation.

2.2. Somatic cell count threshold 

The somatic cell count in 1 ml of milk shall not exceed 1 000 000 cells.

2.3. Bacterial count

The maximum bacterial count in raw milk is provided in the Appendix B to this Regulation.

2.4. Mycotoxins (Aflatoxin M₁)

The maximum limit of Aflatoxin M₁ in raw milk is 0.5 µg/kg of milk.

2.5. Heavy metals

The maximum limits of heavy metals in raw milk are provided in the Appendix C to this Regulation.

2.6. Veterinary drug residues

The maximum limits of veterinary drug residues in raw milk shall comply with the Circular No. 24/2013/TT-BYT dated August 14, 2013 of the Ministry of Health providing for maximum levels of veterinary drug residues in food.

2.7. Pesticide residues

The maximum limits of pesticide residues in raw milk shall comply with the Circular No. 50/2016/TT-BYT dated December 30, 2016 of the Ministry of Health providing for maximum levels of pesticide residues in food.

2.8. Requirements for storage and transport

2.8.1. Storage

Raw milk shall be stored at 2 °C to 6 °C using stainless food refrigeration equipment and instruments which can protect milk from contamination; quality and food safety shall be also ensured during the storage.

2.8.2. Transport

Raw milk shall be transported using stainless food refrigeration equipment and instruments which can protect milk from contamination; quality and food safety shall be also ensured during the transport.

2.9. Test methods

The test methods applied are specified in the Appendix D to this Regulation or the test methods with equivalent accuracy may be adopted. Where it is necessary to check any indicator for which a test method is unavailable in this Regulation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall decide a test method according to recognized test method.

3. REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

3.1. Conformity assessment

3.1.1. The assessment of conformity with this Regulation for raw milk producers and traders shall be carried out using Method 5 specified in the Circular No. 28/2012/TT-BKHCN dated December 12, 2012 of the Ministry of Science and Technology on declaration of standard conformity and technical-regulation conformity and methods for assessment of conformity with standards and techni