Mississippi direct-to-consumer compliance, guide 7 of 24

Dairy

Raw milk for people is banned except small on-farm goat sales; everything else needs a permit.

Licensed Facility Required

9maximum producing goats for raw goat milk sales

$300annual milk product plant permit

$500maximum fine for illegal unpasteurized sales

No adsraw goat milk cannot be advertised

What is covered

Raw goat milk sold on the farm, direct to the consumer, from 9 or fewer producing goats, unadvertised
Pasteurized milk products from a permitted plant
Frozen desserts from a permitted plant

Needs a different path

Raw cow milk or raw sheep milk for sale to people
Cream, custard pies and other dairy items sold as cottage food
Delivered, shipped or advertised raw goat milk

Three compliance steps

A
Decide the route
Small goat milk sellers can use the incidental sales exception. Anyone processing milk products needs a Board of Health permit.
B
Meet the conditions
Milking on a clean cement or comparable floor, a walled or screened milking area, a fly strap, and sterile milking and storage containers.
C
Permit or stay small
Plants pay $300 a year for a milk product or frozen dessert permit and follow the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance for Grade A products.

Quick reference

Item	Rule	Regulator
Raw goat milk	On premises, direct to consumer, no more than 9 producing goats, no advertising	MSDH / Board of Health
Milking conditions	Clean enclosure, cement floor, fly strap, sterile containers	MSDH
Grade A milk	Regulated under the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance	MSDH
Processing plant	$300 annual permit (milk products and frozen desserts)	MSDH
Penalty	Misdemeanor; fine up to $500 or 60 days for unauthorized unpasteurized sales	State law
Cottage food	Dairy products are on the unapproved cottage list	MSDH

Common questions

Can I sell raw cow milk?

Not for people. Section 75-31-65 authorizes only incidental raw goat milk sales; other unpasteurized sales are a misdemeanor.

Can I post goat milk for sale on social media?

No. The exception requires that the seller not advertise the milk.

Does a herd share or cow share work?

The statute reviewed authorizes only the incidental raw goat milk exception. Herd-share arrangements are not addressed there, so ask MSDH before relying on one.

Printable checklist

9 or fewer producing goats
Sales only on the farm, direct to consumer
No advertising of raw goat milk
Clean enclosed milking area
Sterile containers used
Permit obtained if processing milk products