Is Raw Milk Legal in the UK? The Rules Explained

Yes — in England, raw cow's drinking milk can be sold legally, but only by registered producers and only in certain ways. Here is how the rules work, in plain English.

The short answer

Raw drinking milk (sometimes called "green top" milk) is legal to sell in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, provided the producer is registered with and inspected by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). In Scotland, the sale of raw cow's milk for drinking is banned.

How it can be sold

In England, a registered farmer may sell raw drinking milk directly to the final consumer through routes such as:

• At the farm itself (the farm gate or farm shop)
• At farmers' markets the farmer attends
• Through the farmer's own delivery rounds
• From the farmer's own online shop, delivered to the customer
• Via approved vending machines at the farm

What a producer cannot do is sell raw milk wholesale through ordinary shops or supermarkets. The sale has to be direct from the producer to you — which is exactly how we operate.

The mandatory health warning

Every sale of raw drinking milk in England must carry this exact wording set by the FSA:

"This milk has not been heat-treated and may therefore contain organisms harmful to health."

You will see it on our bottles, on every product page and in the footer of this website. It exists because raw milk is not pasteurised, so there is an inherent risk, particularly for people who are more vulnerable to infection.

How producers are regulated

Registered raw milk producers are inspected by the FSA and must meet hygiene standards and test their milk regularly. Registration is not a one-off — it comes with ongoing checks. This framework is what allows raw milk to be sold while managing the risks involved.

Where we deliver

We deliver raw milk on doorstep rounds across East Sussex and by courier across England and Wales. Learn more about what raw milk is or browse our raw milk.