Ban on sale of raw milk is justified, says Coveney

A BAN on the sale of raw milk for human consumption is justified, says Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney.

Minister Coveney does not propose to ban the sale of cheese or other products manufactured from raw milk, because the same risk to public health does not arise. He said public health is the overriding consideration, and allowing the sale of raw milk on a restricted basis would be more complicated, and would impose significant costs on the Department of Agriculture.

“Failure to adequately oversee such high-risk business operations could result in serious national and international reputational risk, for instance in the event of an outbreak of TB being linked to the consumption of raw milk purchased from an establishment approved by the competent authority. It should be noted that the prevalence of TB in herds in Ireland puts us in a different position to most other member states in the EU, where the disease has been eradicated,” he says.