{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2004-853/annex-III/section-IX/chapter-I/division-III/division-3",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2004-853/annex-III/section-IX/chapter-I/division-III/division-3.json",
  "legislation": "eur/2004/853",
  "legislation_title": "Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2004-853",
  "path": "annex/III/section/IX/chapter/I/division/III/division/3",
  "kind": "division",
  "number": "3",
  "heading": null,
  "text": "(a) Food business operators must initiate procedures to ensure that raw milk meets the following criteria:\n(i) for raw cows' milk:\nRolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month.\nRolling geometric average over a three-month period, with at least one sample per month, unless the competent authority specifies another methodology to take account of seasonal variations in production levels.\nPlate count at 30 o C (per ml)\n≤ 100 000\nSomatic cell count (per ml)\n≤ 400 000\n(ii) for raw milk from other species:\nRolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month.\nPlate count at 30 o C (per ml)\n≤ 1 500 000\n(b) However, if raw milk from species other than cows is intended for the manufacture of products made with raw milk by a process that does not involve any heat treatment, food business operators must take steps to ensure that the raw milk used meets the following criterion:\nRolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month.\nPlate count at 30 o C (per ml)\n≤ 500 000",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Substituted by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1662/2006 of 6 November 2006 amending Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (Text with EEA relevance)."
    },
    {
      "type": "X",
      "label": "X1",
      "text": "Substituted by Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 laying down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin (Official Journal of the European Union L 139 of 30 April 2004)."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f1",
      "text": "Rolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f2",
      "text": "Rolling geometric average over a three-month period, with at least one sample per month, unless the competent authority specifies another methodology to take account of seasonal variations in production levels."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f3",
      "text": "Rolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month."
    },
    {
      "type": "footnote",
      "label": "f4",
      "text": "Rolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month."
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2004/853/annex/III/section/IX/chapter/I/division/III/division/3",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-11-01T14:55:34.013502+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}