Buffalo milk stocks in Italy drop following new traceability laws

The buffalo milk supply chain in Campania is experiencing significant shifts due to new traceability laws. Stocks of frozen DOP concentrated milk plummeted by 70.07% over the past year, dropping from 4.7 million kg to 1.4 million kg as of August. This decline follows an April 2025 law that prohibits the use and possession of concentrate for both DOP and non-DOP products, effectively addressing legal loopholes.

While the new regulations are viewed as a victory for product quality, the industry faces an ongoing crisis regarding contracts and overproduction. Data from MBC shows that total milk collection rose by 8.35% to 231.6 million kg, yet DOP mozzarella production only grew by 3.72%. This imbalance has led to an 89.06% increase in whole frozen milk stocks, reaching 19.3 million kg.

Coldiretti officials have warned that this overproduction is triggering contract cancellations that threaten the survival of local farms. To mitigate these issues, Coldiretti and ANASB are working with the Campania Region to develop a plan for the seasonal adjustment of calving to better align milk production with market demand during summer months.