FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Steve McCutcheon said that the Food Standards Code currently permits the production and sale of a very limited range of raw milk cheeses such as cheeses that have been cooked in production, such as parmesan and gruyere for example.
"Under this Proposal, other kinds of cheeses (for example, hard blue cheeses or cheddars) may be produced using raw milk as long as stringent requirements in the Code are met," McCutcheon said.
"These include additional animal health, milking hygiene and temperature control requirements.
"Businesses would have to demonstrate to enforcement agencies that they are able to meet the requirements."
FSANZ is expecting to notify ministers responsible for food regulation of its decision on the proposal in late 2014. If ministers approve the decision, the changes are expected to come into effect in early 2015.
