Raw milk required as sole ingredient for room-temperature pure milk

Producers of sterilized shelf-stable pure milk (commonly sold as ambient or room-temperature pure milk) may use only fresh raw milk as the sole ingredient, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. 

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Effectively Sept. 16, the use of reconstituted milk — milk powder first produced by drying fresh milk and then re-hydrated into liquid form — is now prohibited in these products.

The ministry said the move applies to sterilized milk products and is intended to tighten standards for raw-material sourcing and product quality. Reconstituted milk typically undergoes multiple heat-processing steps during drying and later reconstitution. From a nutritional perspective, such repeated thermal treatments can degrade heat-sensitive components, including immunoglobulins, active enzymes, lactoferrin and bioactive forms of calcium, reducing the milk’s nutritional value.

The new rule marks a notable regulatory shift for manufacturers of ambient pure milk, who will now be required to demonstrate that their sterilized products are made exclusively from fresh raw milk. Further implementation details and enforcement mechanisms were outlined by the ministry in its announcement.