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Tell Your Senator to Legalize Raw Milk Sales
Support SB 58
Senate Bill 58 (SB 58), legislation to legalize sales of raw milk and raw milk products in West Virginia, would allow producers to sell up to 80 gallons of raw milk per day and up to 40 pounds of raw milk products daily, including but not limited to cream, butter and yogurt. Currently, raw milk can only be distributed through herdshare agreements under state law.
Producers must register with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) which must conduct an inspection of the dairy and give its approval before the producer can start selling raw dairy.
Producers must meet requirements for the physical facility, sanitation, milk handling and labeling in order to be able to sell raw milk and raw milk products legally. WVDA inspects the dairies on an annual basis and has the power to suspend sales and institute other corrective measures such as further inspections and testing if the producer is not in compliance with requirements and/or is suspected of causing illness.
The bill also requires producers to offer customers written safe raw milk handling and use guidelines and to give potential customers an opportunity to conduct a tour of the farm and milking operation. In addition, producers must obtain a food handlers card from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.
SB 58 represents an opportunity to expand raw milk access in the state.
ACTION TO TAKE
1. Call your State Senator and ask her/him to support SB 58. Go to the Senate Roster to find your state senator’s contact information or click here.
2. Call your House Delegate and ask her/him to support SB 58 when it gets to the House. Go to the House Roster to find your state delegate’s contact information or click here.
TALKING POINTS
1. SB 58 will increase access to raw dairy, better meeting the increased demand for raw milk and raw milk products by informed consumers.
2. SB 58 would better enable dairy farmers to make a living and could lead to increased sales of other farm products. Raw milk is often what gets consumers on the farm in the first place; once there, they could also purchase other farm products such as meat, poultry, eggs and produce.
3. Raw milk and raw milk products have a good track record for food safety. In recent years as the demand for milk has increased, the number of illnesses attributed to raw milk consumption has gone down considerably. The bill contains requirements that help maintain the production of safe milk.
4. Passage of SB 58 will keep more of the food dollar in the community boosting the local and state economy.
5. Tell your senator in your own words of other reasons you support the passage of the bill such as the health benefits you think raw dairy provides.
WAPF will be issuing updates on SB 58 as events warrant.
=== LINKS ===
SB 58 Bill History –https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?year=2021&sessiontype=RS&input=58
Senate Roster – https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Senate1/roster.cfm
House Roster – https://www.wvlegislature.gov/House/roster.cfm
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