Moldova Proposes Stricter Quality Standards for Edible Casein and Caseinates

On 22 October 2025, Moldova’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry introduced a draft regulation establishing mandatory quality and safety requirements for edible casein and caseinates, with public consultation open until 6 November 2025. The draft covers edible acid casein, rennet casein and edible caseinates intended for human consumption. It sets minimum milk protein contents of 90% for acid casein, 84% for rennet casein and 88% for caseinates, while casein content must reach at least 95% across all three categories. Moisture limits are set at 12% for both acid and rennet casein and 8% for caseinates, with milk fat capped at 2% and lactose at 1%. The pH range for caseinates must fall between 6.0 and 8.0. The draft also introduces strict safety criteria, including a maximum lead limit of 0.75 mg/kg and a requirement that no foreign matter be detected in a 25 g sample. Sensory standards require a white to off-white appearance, no hard lumps and no off-odours. Labelling must include the product name, net weight, manufacturer or importer details, country of origin when applicable and batch or production date, with mandatory Romanian language labelling for all products sold in Moldova. Caseinates must also declare the cation type. Products not meeting edible standards may not be used for food processing and must not be labelled in a way that could mislead consumers.