On December 15, 2022 the New Brunswick Farm Products Commission (the Commission) passed the Milk Quality and Premise Penalty Order pursuant to the Natural Products Act. The order sets out that the Commission will notify a producer whose raw milk, upon testing, is found to contain an unacceptable bacteria count (one or more of SPC, IBC or LPC), an unacceptable somatic cell count, added water, or inhibitors or veterinary drug residues. The Commission will advise the producer if a penalty has been incurred and the amount of the penalty.. 

The order sets out the standards for bacteria count limit and somatic cell count limit and the standards for the presence of water standard, and non-compliance of the standards. 

The order defines a “premises infraction” as the marketing of raw milk that has been produced on the premises of a dairy farm that does not comply with the Regulation, or handled with milking equipment and utensils that do not comply with the Regulation. The penalty for a premises infraction is equal to 5% of the gross milk value for the month in which the infraction occurred and will continue to be charged each subsequent month until the producer has taken steps to comply with the Regulation.

*Source: New Brunswick (Order No. 2022-06) December 15, 2022.