# 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, Division 3

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(a) Food business operators must initiate procedures to ensure that raw milk meets the following criteria:
(i) for raw cows' milk:
Rolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month.
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.
Plate count at 30 o C (per ml)
≤ 100 000
Somatic cell count (per ml)
≤ 400 000
(ii) for raw milk from other species:
Rolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month.
Plate count at 30 o C (per ml)
≤ 1 500 000
(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:
Rolling geometric average over a two-month period, with at least two samples per month.
Plate count at 30 o C (per ml)
≤ 500 000

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2004/853/annex/III/section/IX/chapter/I/division/III/division/3 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/eu-regulation-2004-853/annex-III/section-IX/chapter-I/division-III/division-3
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.