Following the death of a three-year-old and four others left ill following the consumption of raw milk, the State Government has vowed to crack down on dairy farmers as of January 1 2015.
The announcement that came late last month requires by law that dairy farmers either treat their raw milk or add a bittering agent to it, making it unpalatable.
Although raw milk is already not permitted to be sold for consumption across Victoria, Consumer Affairs Minister Jane Garrett believes the packaging and sale of raw milk as a cosmetic product is causing confusion.
“Despite the labeling of raw milk as not fit for human consumption, some Victorians have been put at risk from drinking it,” Ms Garrett told the Herald Sun.
With many Greek Australian dairy farmers amongst the producers of raw milk, their dairy’s are of those in Victoria that will be affected.
To further convey the great significance of this crackdown, those breaching the new rules will be fined a sum of $17,700, with farmers risking the revocation of their dairy license.