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producers and their families. Under Senate Bill 360, herdshare dairies of “up to five cattle or fifteen goats or sheep” could
distribute raw milk and raw milk products to shareholders. SB 360 was referred to the Joint Committee on Environment.
HAWAII SB 588 & 381
Currently, raw dairy sales are prohibited. Senate Bill 588 would allow sales either at a farm or farmstand; under this
bill, the state health department may adopt rules to regulate production and distribution but must be consistent with
laws in other states that allow the sale of raw milk and raw milk products. SB 588 passed both the Senate Agriculture
Committee [AGL] and the Senate Health Committee [HTH] with amendments and was then referred to the Senate
Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection [CPN].
Senate Bill 381 (deferred by both the Senate Agriculture and Health Committees) would allow distribution of raw
milk at a farm or farmstand through herdshares that have registered with the department of health; however, the de-
partment would have no rulemaking power over herdshares. SB 381 was also referred to the Committee on Commerce
and Consumer Protection [CPN].
IOWA HF 209
House File 209 would legalize the sale of unpasteurized and ungraded milk and milk products as commercial feed
for animals. The bill requires a label stating, "It is not legal to sell raw milk for human consumption in Iowa. This product
is intended to be used solely for commercial feed to be consumed by animals." There would be no permit or inspection
requirement if all the dairy does is sell milk or milk products as commercial feed. HF 209 would make it a misdemeanor
to resell raw dairy products sold as commercial feed. Under the bill, “sale” is defined to include herdshares, effectively
banning herdshares in Iowa. The bill was referred to the House Agriculture Committee.
INDIANA HB 1346
Current law prohibits the sale of raw milk. House Bill 1346 would recognize the legality of herdshares in Indiana; the
bill would allow a person to obtain raw milk from animals, solely or partially owned by either the individual or members
of the individual’s family or employer. Numerous herdshares exist in Indiana but current law does not expressly prohibit
or allow them. HB 1346 was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
MAINE LD 229 & LD 312
Legislative Drawer 229 (LD 229) would exempt from licensing “a milk distributor who daily produces for sale less
than 20 gallons of raw milk or daily processes less than 20 gallons of raw milk into cheese aged at least 60 days, yogurt,
cream, butter or kefir or other dairy product.” Labeling and signage would be required; but sales can be at the farm, a
farmstand or farmers market in Maine. The bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and
Forestry and scheduled for a March 12 public hearing.
Legislative Drawer 312 would exempt on-farm sales of raw dairy products from state licensing and inspection re-
quirements if the sales are made directly to an “end consumer” and if the consumer is allowed to visually inspect the
farm, the farm does not advertise in any way, the farmer completes a course in dairy sanitation every three years and
displays the course certificate at the point of sale. The farmer must also post at the point of sale the results of a water
test. LD 312 was referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
MONTANA HB 245
Under House Bill 245, small dairies [i.e., herds of lactating animals with no more than 7 cows or 15 goats or 15
sheep] would be able to sell raw milk and raw milk products on the farm if they obtain a small herd exemption permit.
HB 245 includes requirements for testing, labeling and signage; Grade A dairies complying with these requirements may
also sell raw milk and raw milk products on the farm. The labeling and signage must read:
THIS PRODUCT, SOLD FOR PERSONAL USE AND NOT FOR RESALE, IS FRESH WHOLE MILK THAT HAS
NOT BEEN PASTEURIZED. NEITHER THIS FARM NOR THE MILK SOLD BY THIS FARM HAS BEEN INSPECTED
BY THE STATE OF MONTANA. THE CONSUMER ASSUMES LIABILITY FOR HEALTH ISSUES THAT MAY
RESULT FROM THE CONSUMPTION OF THIS PRODUCT.
Herdshares would be exempt from the bill’s requirements if there is a written contract showing that the individual
obtaining milk from the dairy has a bona fide ownership interest in the herd; the contract must also include a notifica-
tion that the raw milk is not pasteurized. HB 245 passed out of the House and was referred to a Senate committee.
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