Approval and registration of dairy companies

Dairy companies in the Netherlands must be approved or registered. Compulsory approval applies to:

• dairy product manufacturers/processors
• businesses which mature, cut, grate and/or process cheese
• those who package and/or repackage dairy products
• cold stores or stores with air conditioning

How to apply for approval?

Applications for approval must be send to the Netherlands Controlling Authority for Milk and Milk Products (COKZ, in Dutch). If registered with COKZ, registration with the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is no longer necessary.

Dairy farmers who sell dairy products from their own farm directly to consumers do not need approval. They do, however, have to register with COKZ and comply with the hygiene codes.

Milk and milk products data

If you own a milk processing company, you must supply information annually about the volumes of processed milk and milk products you have produced to the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (in Dutch).