Buyer protection
Contents
EU market rules reserve the term "milk" for the product of normal udder secretion. For milk that does not come from cows, the animal species must be stated – hence "donkey milk".
We report what the source says and interpret it critically. Donkey milk is a food.
The source in brief
- Author: European Parliament and Council of the European Union
- Work: Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 establishing a common market organisation for agricultural products (OJ L 347 of 20 December 2013, p. 671)
- Section: Annex VII Part III "Milk and dairy products", numbers 1, 2 and 4 (OJ L 347, pp. 814–815)
- Time and place: 2013 · European Union
- Type of source: EU regulation
The exact wording
The term "milk" is reserved exclusively for the product obtained by milking once or more from normal udder secretion, without any addition or removal.
Official German wording.
German, Regulation (EU) 1308/2013, Annex VII Part III No. 1
For milk, if it is not cow's milk, the animal species of origin must be stated.
Official German wording.
German, Regulation (EU) 1308/2013, Annex VII Part III No. 4
Background
Regulation (EU) No 1308/2013 governs the common market organisation for agricultural products in the EU. Annex VII contains definitions and particulars of labelling for certain products; Part III concerns milk and dairy products.
The rules date back to older regulations protecting milk designations and apply directly in all Member States. They are marketing law: they determine how certain products may be designated and say nothing about the properties or effects of a type of milk.
What the source says
Number 1 reserves the term "milk" exclusively for the product obtained by milking once or more from normal udder secretion, without any addition or removal. Exceptions include treatments that do not change the composition and additions such as information on type, origin or use.
Number 2 defines "dairy products" as products obtained exclusively from milk and reserves designations such as whey, cream, butter, cheese, yoghurt, kefir and kumis for such products.
Number 4 states: If it is not cow's milk, the animal species of origin must be stated. For milk from donkeys, this results in the designation "donkey milk" or an equivalent statement of the animal species.
Figures and facts
- 1308/2013 – EU regulation number
- 20 December 2013 – Publication in the Official Journal (L 347)
- Annex VII – Part III: Milk and dairy products
- No. 4 – Requirement to state the animal species for non-cow milk
- 16 – Dairy product designations in No. 2(a) (whey to rūgušpiens)
Critical interpretation
- Legal nature: Directly applicable EU law. The official German wording of the 2013 version is reproduced; EUR-Lex is authoritative for the currently applicable consolidated version.
- Scope: The regulation governs designations in trade. It contains no statements about composition, quality or health.
- Distinction: Further obligations for food of animal origin arise from other legal acts; they are not the subject of this entry.
- Practical significance: The designation "donkey milk" on labels is not a promotional phrase, but the legally required statement of the animal species.
Our interpretation
This entry explains why "donkey milk" and not just "milk" appears on labels. It is a legal interpretation, not legal advice.
Original quotes, all facts and the full interpretation: EU law: What "milk" means – and the animal species. Further sources and studies in the research archive.
Source: Official Journal version of the Regulation (PDF, provided by LAVES Niedersachsen; Annex VII Part III on OJ pp. 814–815) · Summarised 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.
