DEFINITION
Last update: 06/05/2025
In the Codex of General Standards for the Use of Dairy Terms, milk is defined as the normal mammary secretion of milking animals obtained from one or more milking without either addition to it or extraction from it, intended for consumption as liquid milk or for further processing [1].
According to the EU law, milk means exclusively the normal mammary secretion obtained from one or more milking without either addition thereto or extraction therefrom [2]. Milk is the primary ingredient for all dairy products such as cheeses, yogurts, butter, cream, and others. All these terms are exclusively reserved for dairy products [2].
| Country | Definition | Source/ Comments |
| Australia | “Milk means the mammary secretion of milking animals, obtained from one or more milkings, intended for consumption as liquid milk or for further processing, and does not include colostrum.” | (Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code (Standard 2.5.1 – Milk) |
| Chile | “Milk is the normal breast secretion free of colostrum, from dairy animals, obtained by one or more milkings, without any type of addition or extraction, intended for consumption in the form of liquid milk or for further processing.” | Only milk from animals can be labeled as such, and the species must be specified if not from cows. Plant-based alternatives are not included. Ley 21179 2019 |
| China | “Normal mammary secretion from healthy cows, obtained by milking, without any addition or extraction, and free from colostrum” | GB 19301-2010 “National Food Safety Standard Raw Milk” |
| India | “The normal mammary secretion derived from complete milking of healthy milk animal, without either addition thereto or extraction therefrom, unless otherwise provided in these regulations and it shall be free from colostrum.” | FSSAI definition applicable to milk from cows, buffaloes, goats, sheep, or any other milk animal as specified. |
| Japan | “Lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of healthy cows, without addition or extraction of constituents”. | Japan’s Food Sanitation Act and related milk regulations |
| South Africa | “The normal secretion of the mammary glands of bovines, goats or sheep.” | AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT STANDARDS ACT, 1990 (ACT No. 119 OF 1990) |
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