The sale of raw milk was banned by the Irish government in 1996, however, this was superseded by an EU directive in 2008, leaving the product's legal status ambiguous. Following this, a small number of farmers began selling raw milk products, and in 2011 the civil society organisation Raw Milk Ireland was formed to oppose the ban and call for the implementation of the EU directive in Irish law. Since the legalisation of the product the organisation has acted as an advocacy group for raw milk producers and sought to help producers to comply with government regulations, as well as to provide information on raw milk to the general public. Raw milk is not widely consumed in Ireland, and it is most commonly purchased directly from farmers or from some speciality health food shops. The sale and consumption of raw milk has been discouraged by various food safety experts, including the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.