Dairy
Raw milk is on-farm only and tightly regulated; all other dairy needs a licensed milk plant.
Licensed Facility RequiredOn-farmRaw milk sales only
20,000Bacteria limit per mL
10Coliform limit per mL
100,000Stop-sale bacteria count
What is covered and what needs a different path
What this guide covers
- Raw milk sold on the farm with a dairy farm certificate
- Pasteurized products from a licensed milk plant
- Cheese and butter from a licensed milk plant
- Sales out of a registered MDAR dairy farm
Needs a different path
- Delivering or shipping raw milk off the farm
- Cow-share or herd-share milk (the policy treats it as a sale)
- Sales of raw milk at markets or stores
- Any milk with detectable antibiotics
Three compliance steps
A
Get certified
Apply to MDAR for a Dairy Farm Certificate of Registration; the department inspects before issuing under 330 CMR 27.11.
B
Meet monthly testing
Raw milk for retail is tested monthly; the 330 CMR 27.06 limits apply, and 100,000 per mL or any antibiotic triggers a cease-and-desist.
C
Label and post
Raw milk containers are conspicuously labeled with the required warning, and a sign posted at the point of sale.
Quick reference
| Item | Rule | Regulator |
|---|---|---|
| Raw milk certificate | Required to sell any milk off the dairy farm premises | MDAR 330 CMR 27.11 |
| Retail raw milk | Bacteria 20,000 per mL; coliform 10 per mL | 330 CMR 27.06 |
| Cow-shares | Partial ownership still counts as a sale | MDAR policy |
| Milk plants | License for pasteurized products | 330 CMR 28.00 |
| Stop-sale | Cease and desist at 100,000 per mL or antibiotic hit | MDAR policy |
Frequently asked questions
Can I deliver raw milk?No. Retail raw milk is sold on the farm only; legislation to allow delivery has been filed but is not law.
Do cow-shares avoid the rules?No. MDAR treats the exchange of milk for ownership fees as a sale.
Can I make cheese from raw milk?Cheese is regulated as a milk product; start with a milk plant license under 330 CMR 28.00.
Printable checklist
- MDAR dairy farm certificate posted in milk room
- Monthly samples on schedule
- Raw milk label and point-of-sale sign
- Antibiotic testing log kept
- No off-farm sale or delivery
- Cow-share model dropped
- Milk plant license for products