Milk food Safety standards

Summary:

Here you’ll find the food safety rules your milk must meet and how to stay compliant through Monthly Hygiene Checks.

Food safety standards in milk production protect consumers and safeguard market access by ensuring milk is safe, traceable, and consistently high quality. 

Monthly Hygiene Checks

Helping you stay ahead of grades

  • Quick monthly checks help you spot issues early and prevent grades before they happen
  • Support food safety compliance so your milk remains safe for export
  • Required every month you supply milk

Fonterra's Risk Management Programme (RMP)

Many of our customers need full traceability with very detailed acceptance specifications. That’s why Fonterra has strict food safety programmes with comprehensive milk testing and moniitoring in place.

The RMP makes sure all milk is 'fit for purpose':

  • Safe
  • Suitable
  • Correctly labelled

It also helps farmers meet Fonterra’s supply standards and deliver the standards of excellence our Co-op is known for.

Raw milk temperature standards

Factsheets to help keep milk cool to avoid penalties.
  • MPI’s raw milk cooling standards apply to all farm dairies.
  • Check your Dairy Diary for the latest temperature requirements.

Deductions apply if milk cooling standards are not met and each collection that fails to meet the Terms of Supply will be recorded. This ensures a fair and consistent approach and protects the Co-op’s reputation.

Check the Milk Cooling Temperature Factsheet for details.

Need help? Download the Deduction Allocation Form, call 0800 65 65 68, or contact your Co-operative Services Area Manager.

Milk must:

  • Cool to 10°C or below within 4 hours of starting milking.
  • Cool to 6°C or below within:
    • 6 hours from starting milking, or
    • 2 hours after finishing milking.
  • Stay at 6°C or below (without freezing) until collection or next milking.
  • Never exceed 10°C during later milkings.

For continuous or automated milking (6+ hours), milk must enter the bulk tank at 6°C or below.

Farm dairy chemical management factsheets

Use our factsheets for best‑practice guidance and tips to reduce grading risks.
  • Correct chemical management prevents residues and protects milk quality.

Temporary water exclusion factsheets

Factsheet that outline what to do and how to stay compliant.
  • Cleaning water must meet MPI standards to protect milk quality.
  • Non-compliant water may require temporary exclusion until fixed.

Need help right now with food safety? Talk to us

Customer Service Team

Our Farmer Support Team is available 24/7 for urgent help and immediate guidance.

Phone 0800 65 65 68

Local support

The My Co‑op app has contact details for your local Farm Source team for more complex issues. 

My Co-op App

Chat in person

Your Farm Source store is there for local face‑to‑face support with our team. They’re always happy to help.

Store locator