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China's 2024 milk powder standard includes donkey milk powder for the first time: at least 2.5 g of fat per 100 g and at least 18% protein of the fat-free dry matter. The animal species must be stated.
We report what the source says and provide a critical assessment. Donkey milk is a food.
The source in brief
- Author: National Health Commission (NHC) and State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) of the People's Republic of China
- Work: National Food Safety Standard GB 19644-2024 "Milk Powder and Modified Milk Powder" (乳粉和调制乳粉), in force since February 8, 2025
- Section: Foreword; No. 2.1 (Definition of milk powder); No. 3.3 Table 2 (Protein, fat, acidity); No. 4.2 (Statement of animal species)
- Time and place: March 12, 2024 · People's Republic of China
- Type of source: National standard (China)
Verbatim
The technical requirements for yak milk powder, camel milk powder, donkey milk powder, and horse milk powder are added.
The technical requirements for yak, camel, donkey, and horse milk powder have been added.
English, GB 19644-2024, Foreword (USDA FAS translation)
Milk powder from other animal sources shall be marked with animal varieties, such as “goat milk powder” or “powdered goat milk.”
Milk powder from other animal sources must be labeled with the animal species, such as "goat milk powder".
English, GB 19644-2024, No. 4.2 (USDA FAS translation)
German translation: own, free translation by the DON DONKEY'S editorial team.
Background
In China, national food safety standards (GB standards) set mandatory requirements for product groups. The National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation published a total of 47 new or revised standards on March 12, 2024, including GB 19644-2024 for milk powder. It replaces GB 19644-2010 and has been in force since February 8, 2025.
The draft was notified to the World Trade Organization in 2020 and again in 2023. According to the Chinese explanatory notes on the draft, milk from yaks, donkeys, horses, and camels has developed into raw material sources of growing importance in China; until then, there was only a regional standard for donkey milk powder from the Autonomous Region of Xinjiang (DBS 65/019-2017).
What the source reports
The standard defines milk powder as a powdered product made from raw milk of a single animal species (No. 2.1). Modified milk powder must contain at least 70 percent milk solids from the main raw material (No. 2.2).
For donkey milk powder, Table 2 specifies: protein of at least 18 percent of the fat-free milk solids, or at least 11.0 g per 100 g for modified donkey milk powder; fat (for whole milk powder only) of at least 2.5 g per 100 g; acidity of the reconstituted milk of no more than 6 °T. For comparison: cow milk powder of at least 34 percent protein of the fat-free dry matter and 26.0 g of fat per 100 g.
According to No. 4.2, only cow milk powder may simply be called "milk powder"; milk powder from other animal species must be labeled with the animal species. This generally corresponds to the EU rule for liquid milk.
Numbers and facts
- ≥ 18% – Protein in the fat-free dry matter (donkey milk powder)
- ≥ 2.5 g – Fat per 100 g of donkey milk powder (whole milk powder)
- ≤ 6 °T – Acidity of the reconstituted donkey milk
- ≥ 11.0 g – Protein per 100 g of modified donkey milk powder
- 136 – Batches evaluated for protein content (draft)
- February 8, 2025 – Standard comes into force
Critical assessment
- Type of source: Mandatory state product standard. The official text is in Chinese; the English version used here is an unofficial translation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the figures match the Chinese draft.
- What the values mean: These are minimum or maximum values for a commercial product, not typical average values. The low minimum fat value reflects the low fat content of donkey milk.
- Omitted parts: The standard also contains food safety requirements; they are not the subject of this entry.
- Significance: By being included in a national standard, donkey milk powder is recognized as a separate product category in China.
Our assessment
The Chinese standard shows how a major producer market legally classifies donkey milk powder: with its own minimum values and animal species designation. It does not apply to products in the EU.
Original quotes, all facts, and the complete assessment: China 2024: Donkey Milk Powder in the National Standard. Further sources and studies in the research archive.
Evidence: USDA FAS Report CH2024-0055 with an unofficial English translation of the standard (PDF); Chinese draft with explanatory notes, notified with the WTO (G/SPS/N/CHN/1160/Add.1, 2023) · Summarized by the DON DONKEY'S editorial team, as of November 2026.
End of source summary. The source does not refer to DON DONKEY'S® or our products. Our donkey milk is a food.
