Evolution of the legal framework of refrigerated raw milk in Brazil

Abstract

This manuscript presents a review of the evolution of the legal framework for the production of refrigerated raw milk in Brazil, from the implementation of the National Program for the Improvement of Milk Quality – PNMQL, to the present day. After the beginning of the work of the PNMQL, in 2002, the Brazilian Network of Milk Quality Laboratories - RBQL was created and the Technical Regulation for Production, Identity, and Quality of Refrigerated Raw Milk was approved. Since then, there has been a gradual evolution in the standards regarding the production of raw milk. This evolution has been guided by rules concerning the obtaining, conservation, transport, and quality standards of refrigerated raw milk. However, official data on the quality of refrigerated raw milk produced by Brazilian producers are not available. In addition, there are few longitudinal case studies that have investigated this issue, after the implementation of PNMQL. Therefore, it is still unclear whether the quality of milk produced in the field has actually improved. Also, it is necessary to clarify which portion of an eventual improvement in the quality of refrigerated raw milk comes from the actions of the PNMQL, and which comes from the exclusion of small producers. The process of improving the quality of refrigerated raw milk depends on the performance of all the links that make up the production chain - producers, industry, and government. The government must regulate and inspect, the industry must support producers so that the goals are achieved, and, finally, producers must act as an interested part in improving the milk quality.

Keywords

• laticínio, legislação, programa nacional de melhoria de qualidade do leite.